U-17 Boyz advance after Costa Rica stalemate
Jamaica are through to the Round of 16 of the Concacaf U-17 Men’s Championship after a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica in Guatemala on Thursday evening.
The young Reggae Boyz took the lead in the 17th minute through a powerful freekick by Alexavier Gooden. They doubled it in the 62nd through Adrien Reid but things went south from there.
Jamaica had their second dismissal in as many games, with Gooden receiving a second yellow card in minute 73.
Costa Rica took advantage of having an extra man on the field and pulled one back in the 79th minute through Roy Bustos. Sean Albriton pulled them level in the 87th minute to ensure Costa Rica win Group G on 7 points.
Jamaica finish second on four, while Cuba, who beat Guadeloupe 3-0 earlier in the day, snuck into the knockout stages in third place on 3 points, the same as Guadeloupe, but with a better goal differential.
Jamaica will meet Guatemala on Saturday at 8 pm Jamaica time, while Costa Rica play Puerto Rico on Sunday, and Cuba face Panama, also on Sunday.
The teams are all playing for four spots in the FIFA U-17 World Cup to be played in Peru this November.