LAUDERHILL, Florida – Jamaica’s All-Island U-19 schoolboy footballers claimed their sixth lien in eight years on the CASA Youth Soccer Championship trophy after beating Fort Lauderdale Strikers 4-3 on penalties in Lauderhill, Florida, on Sunday.

With an average of four goals per game and unbeaten coming into the finals, Fort Lauderdale found it difficult to penetrate the defensive unit of the Jamaicans, which was marshalled by captain Jahwani Hinds, Ajeanie Talbott, Oquin Robinson and Michael Heaven.

Jamaica got their clearest chance in the first half when Tyrek Magee picked up a beautiful diagonal pass from Heaven on the right, but his tame shot went wide of the mark from close range in the seventh minute. That was only one of two chances the Jamaicans got in the entire first period which ended 0-0.

On the resumption, the Jamaicans settled quickly and looked more purposeful going forward, but poor finishing kept them off the scoring sheet 15 minutes into the half. In the 52nd minute, Jourdain Fletcher, with the goalkeeper at his mercy, failed to capitalise on a splitting mid-field pass from Duhaney Williams.

Five minutes later, a combination between Williams and MVP Peter-Lee Vassell in the six-yard box saw the latter misjudging a nicely timed pass, which ended in the hands of the goalkeeper. Minutes later, a rebound from a brilliant volley off the right foot of Andrew Daley produced a very tame follow up shot from Williams in the six-yard area.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers took the lead in the 61st minute after Inigo Sagardul latched on to a loose ball on the right side of the six-yard box and sent a right-footer pass Shamar Jamenson in goal.

The goal, however, did not seem to rattle the Jamaicans as they maintained their offensive sway and continued to create chances. Fletcher, Williams and substitute Alphonso Gordon all got opportunities, but saves by the Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper and poor shooting kept the Jamaicans off the scoresheet to that point.

Five minutes from game’s end, prolific goal-scorer Jourdain Fletcher gave Jamaica the equaliser, which ultimately sent the game into penalty kicks. Fletcher picked up a loose ball near the edge of the six-yard area and fired low to beat the Fort Lauderdale Strikers custodian.

The game was held up for a few minutes as the hosts protested that the goal was off a loose fairplay ball. The referee allowed the goal, however, as it had touched a Fort Lauderdale player.

About a minute from regulation time, Jamaica should have gone up 2-1, but Duhaney Williams’ went for glory instead of passing to the unmarked Fletcher who was in a better position to go for goal.

Gooden, Fabian Grant, Vassell and Fletcher converted for Jamaica, while a Fort Lauderdale miss and a save by goalkeeper Jamenson gave Jamaica the 4-3 win.

Coach Miguel Coley was very happy for the victory.

“We were in a very tough zone and with the challenge of teamwork from a bunch of players who never played together before, I thought we did very well,” he said.

Captain Hinds, who was playing in his third CASA Classic, said: “It was a very good championship win, especially when you consider the togetherness of the team and that Jamaica missed out the two previous years.”

— Patrick Green