ST JOHN’S, Antigua — It was not the start that they hoped for, but the reality is that football can be a cruel sport.

And that proved true last night when defending champions Jamaica crashed to a shock defeat to French Guiana in their opening CFU Caribbean Championship at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium last night despite looking the more dominant team for the most part.

The Reggae Boyz, ranked No 50 by FIFA and the only Caribbean team in the final round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament, went behind in the 19th minute through an own-goal, but signalled they could still win the game when Tramaine Stewart popped up three minutes later to level the playing field.

But only three minutes after the interval, the

French-speaking team secured their “unexpected win” over the celebrated kings of the Caribbean when Rudy Evens did the clean-up job.

The result means Jamaica are at the bottom of Group B with Cuba without a point, after the latter lost 0-1 to another French-speaking country, Martinique, in the other game.

From the first kick-off, Jamaica possessed the ball for three unbroken minutes, tasting every inch of the pitch in the process and gave French Guiana their first touch following a weak shot from Stewart angling out right.

In minute number five, the French men had a sniff of the Jamaican goal when their captain Jean Claude Darchville unleashed a rasping shot from 20 yards out, but Jamaican goalie Dwayne Miller was wide awake and parried for a recovering Andrae Campbell to mop up.

As the Jamaicans continued their eye-catching passing game, a nice give-and-go between Jermaine Hue and Campbell looked promising, but the latter’s cross inside failed to land kindly for Keammar Daley in the 16th minute.

And against the run of play, the Boyz found themselves behind when a long ball found the bustling Darchville, who gained a clear run on goal before crossing to Gary Pigree, whose final effort was helped across the line by a back-tracking Jamaican defender for an own-goal in the 19th.

Unfazed by the French Guiana goal, Jamaica quickly regrouped and went on the hunt for the equaliser. They found it three minutes later when Stewart rammed home from what appeared a difficult angle to give goalkeeper Laurent Pecthy no chance.

On 45 minutes, the dangerous Darchville took aim at Miller once again with a thunderous free kick from 25 yards, but the Syrianska player was up in all his glory to tip over the horizontal.

Well, whatever was said by the respective coaches in the dressing room at half-time, it were the French Guiana players who responded quicker as they jumped into the lead for a second time in the 48th when Evens’ low shot from angled position took a deflection to beat Miller.

With French Guiana obviously boosted by the lead and the scent of victory in the air, their respect for the Jamaicans slowly dwindled as they attacked with more regularity and confidence.

In a turn of attacking direction in 72nd minute, substitute Omar Cummings fancied his chance from way out, but the ‘keeper was not going to be left out of the action and kept his team in the game with a fine save.

Five minutes later, Jamaica looked a lively bunch as they moved in on goal with Darren Mattocks, Stewart and Cummings leading the charge, with the veteran Ricardo Gardner not far behind. The latter also had a shot blocked from not far out.

Jamaica next face Martinique tomorrow in a must-win contest, while French Guiana take on Cuba at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

Action continues today in Group A with leaders Dominican Republic battling Haiti and hosts Antigua and Barbuda out to rescue their fading campaign against Trinidad and Tobago at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

TEAMS:

Jamaica — Dwayne Miller, Shavar Thomas, Montrose Phinn, Andrae Campbell (Ricardo Gardner 57th), Xavian Virgo, Demar Phillips, Jason Morrison, Keammar Daley, Jermaine Hue (Darren Mattocks 52nd), Ryan Johnson (Omar Cummings 52nd), Tramaine Stewart.

Subs not used: Duwayne Kerr, Jacomeno Barrett, Dicoy Williams, Alvas Powell, Roahn Reid, Lamar Nelson, Lovel Palmer, Lamar Nelson, Jermaine Anderson, Ewan Grandison.

Booked: Thomas (54th)

French Guiana — Laurent Pecthy, Gary Marigard, Marvin Torvic, Rudy Evens, Serge Leperance, Albert Ajaiso, Jean Claude Darchville (Frederic Habran 77th), Lesley Malouda, Gary Pigree (Stanley Ridel 86th), Samuel Sophie, Marc Edwige.

Subs not used: Raymond Jean Jacques, David Martinon, Ahednego Damba, , Frederic Adinge, Staphane Golitin, Stephane Brown, Jean Petit Homme.

Booked: Edwige (57th)

Referee: Sandy Vargas (Dom Rep)

Assistants: Jairo Garcia (Puerto Rico), Dion Neil (Trinidad)

Fourth Official: William Aderson (Puerto Rico)

Match Commissary: Antonio Segura (Puerto Rico)