NEW JERSEY, USA – Jamaica went down 0-2 to Ecuador in the training match inside Red Bull Arena earlier tonight.

Enner Valencia put the South American outfit ahead from the penalty spot on 16 minutes when struck firmly to goalkeeper Amal Knight’s left.

Five minutes into the second half Jamaica went further behind when Renato Ibarra struck powerfully past Knight from the right side of the penalty area, after his teammates contributed significantly to the goal with a number of misplaced passes to the opponents in the danger area.

Ecuador bossed possession of the game for the most parts as the Reggae Boyz failed to cope adequately with their unending hustle and limited space and time on the ball.

In fact on the half-hour mark Fabion McCarthy saved his team when he denied Miler Bolanos what appeared a certain goal by sliding in to thwart danger after Enner Valencia had got in behind the Jamaican defence on the right.

Shortly afterwards in one of Jamaica’s rare forward thrust, Owayne Gordon crossed deep into Ecuador’s penalty area but Peter-Lee Vassell failed to get enough onto the delivery and danger was averted.

Shortly after Ecuador doubled their lead Knight pulled off a brilliant right-handed save to deny Ayrton Preciado from just outside the penalty box.

This would have been the University of the West Indies goaltender’s last major contribution as 18-year-old St Andrew Technical High School Manning Cup captain was given a taste of football at this level and he did himself extremely well by commanding his area and making timely saves to keep the score line respectable.

In the final stages of the game the Reggae Boyz were presented with a few half chances but they failed to convert.

Ian Burnett