BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Jamaica came from two goals down at half time to earn a well-deserved 2-2 result against Barbados here at the Barbados Football Association (BFA) Wildey Turf on Monday night.

Barbados captain Rashad Jules gave his team a fortuitous lead shortly after the half hour mark and Zeco Edmee put his team further ahead on the stroke of half time.

However, the visitors hit back with two goals within four minutes late in the game courtesy of Marvin Morgan and a Peter-Lee Vassell penalty. The Jamaicans also had a penalty taken by Fabion McCarthy saved by goalkeeper Kishmar Primus, who hurt himself diving smartly to his right to deny the University of the West Indies FC player. He was subsequently replaced by Jason Boxill, who was equally impressive between the sticks.

It was a cagey first half where neither team managed to create any clear-cut opportunities, as the visitors struggled to cope with the slick under-foot artificial turf and the very aggressive Barbadians.

It took Vassell, who scored twice against Grenada last Friday, 19 minutes to test Primus with a rasping pile-driver from outside the penalty area.

And after another period where neither goalkeeper was called into action, the home side took the lead, much to the delight of the partisan supporters. Jamaican captain Ladale Richie missed a left-sided cross and the ball fell kindly to Jules on the right. The Barbadian skipper tricked his way past Ricardo Thomas on the right side just inside the penalty box and whipped in an attempted cross which ricocheted off the retreating Chevone Marsh before looping over the head of goalkeeper Damion Hyatt.

The Reggae Boyz countered immediately with a neat build up on the right flank between Morgan, McCarthy and Vassell, with a final pass played in to Reid on the edge of the six-yard box, but after the Arnett Gardens attacker spun goalwards, he dragged his grounder wide of Primus’ left upright.

Then, the Jamaicans got careless with Morgan gifting away possession cheaply in the middle of the park resulting in his team being caught in transition and the Barbadians made full use of the opportunity with Hadan Holligan breaking away on the left side of the penalty area and his teasing cross ahead of the retreating defenders was easily tapped in from close range by Edmee two minutes before the half time interval.

The Jamaicans returned for the second half in a menacing mood with Reid earning a penalty within two minutes of the restart after being bundled over by a clumsy challenge from the towering Teriq Highland.

However, McCarthy won the approval of Vassell for the spot kick, but lost the expected applause as his well-placed effort lacked the requisite power to beat an alert Primus.

Armando Lashley then got a good opportunity to add to the lead but pulled his right-footer wide of Hyatt’s right hand post.

Jamaica then found another gear and took over full control of the game with Tevin Shaw, who played a good game, drive a firm shot against substitute goalkeeper Jason Boxill’s goal frame. Moments later Vassell, who became increasingly more influential, released the flying Morgan down the right flank and into the penalty area, but the diminutive Arnett Gardens player was denied by the advancing Boxill.

And as the hosts sat back deep into their half, Alex Marshall, who had replaced Chevone Marsh, combined well with Vassell in close quarters at the edge of the penalty area on the left, and after slicing and dicing past three defenders, curled a well-struck right-footer which was again brilliantly saved by Boxill.

But, 11 minutes from time, the Reggae Boyz’ relentless pressure paid off when the silky smooth Vassell ran at the tiring Barbadian defence and slipped a pass to Morgan behind the defence and the man who made his senior team debut back in 2009 in Martinique when Jamaica won the Caribbean Cup, made amends for his earlier misses by powering home a low shot past Boxill at his near post.

And before long, referee Sherwin Moore had no choice but to whistle a second penalty for the match when Raheim Sargeant handled the ball in a challenge with Reid.

Vassell, the first choice penalty taker duly dispatched the spot kick with a firm grounder to the back post.

Teams: Jamaica – Damion Hyatt, Ladale Richie (Barrington Pryce 90th+), Ajeanie Talbott, Ricardo Thomas, Fabion McCarthy, Kevaughn Isaacs, Tevin Shaw, Chevone Marsh (Alex Marshall 68th), Peter-Lee Vassell, Marvin Morgan, Fabian Reid

Booked: None

Subs not used: Amal Knight, Ray Campbell, Shandel Senior, Kaheem Parris

Barbados – Kishmar Primus (Jason Boxill 53rd), Ramar Millar, Teriq Highland, Akeem Hill, Raheim Sargeant (Rashad Smith 87th), Rashad Jules, Jomo Harris, Armando Lashley (Darico King 68th), Mario Williams, Hadan Holligan, Zeco Edmee (Thierry Gale 71st)

Booked: Edmee (68th), Harris (70th), Sargeant (83rd)

Subs not used: Dartio Weir, Omani Leacock, Nicoli Brathwaite, Tito Beckles, Shane Codrington

Referee: Sherwin Moore (Barbados)

Assistant Referee 1: Kevon Clarke (Barbados), Tonia Deane (Barbados)

Fouth Official: Gillian Martindale (Barbados)

Referee Assessor: Barney Callender (Barbados)

Ian Burnett