T&T had to settle for a second straight runner-up finish and fifth in team history after going under to host Jamaica 3-4 on penalty kicks after 90 minutes of regulation-time and 30 minutes of extra time failed to separate both teams in the 18th Caribbean Football Union Cup final on Tuesday night.
The match was the feature of a final day double-header at a near capacity Montego Bay Sports Complex and followed Haiti's 2-1 win over Cuba in the third place match.
The culprits for the Soca Warriors, who were chasing a record ninth title on the night and first since a 3-0 beating of Haiti in 2001 on home soil, was captain and Cardiff City striker Kenwyne Jones, missing his team's opening effort and midfielder Khaleem Hyland of Racing Genk in Belgium, who sent the fifth and final kick overbar.
T&T goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams made a save on Michael Seaton's fourth item but it was not enough to deny the Jamaicans a sixth title.
It was the fourth meeting between the two winningest teams in CFU Cup history with the Reggae Boyz now holding a 3-1 edge over the Soca Warriors.
In 1991, Jamaica playing as host defeated T&T 2-0 and also won 2-1 in 1998, also in Kingston, while the Soca Warriors lifted the title in 1992 courtesy a 3-1 whipping of the Reggae Boyz at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
The Jamaicans also reached the final on home soil in 1993, losing 6-5 on penalty-kicks to Martinique after a 0-0; in 2008 when they won 2-0 over Grenada and in 2010, then they pipped Guadeloupe 5-4 on penalty-kicks after a 1-1 deadlock while the Soca Warriors also won in Kingston, 5-0 over St Vincent and the Grenadines. The Reggae Boyz other title came in 2005 when the tournament was played on a round-robin basis in Barbados.
T&T other title wins came in 1989, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2001, while it also ended second in 1991, 1998, 2007 and 2012 to be the most successful team in the competition's history.
After being under some early pressure from the robust tackling Jamaicans, Kevin Molino had T&T's best opportunity in the 23rd minute but his right-footer missed the upright after Jones headed downwards into his path from an incoming cross.
Jamaica kept pressing for the go ahead goal mainly through Leyton Orient midfielder Jobi McAnuff who had some good looks at goal but his finishing was a let down while on other occassions, T&T kept it solid at the back through Daneil Cyrus.
In the second-half, T&T appeared jaded as the match progressed while Jamaica took its game down to walking pace at times but the host was determined not to let down its fans.
With the minutes ticking away, T&T almost stole a late winner when substitute Ataulla Guerra, who replaced Hughtun Hector. Guerra connected with a loose ball but his shot went inches wide to the dismay of the T&T players both on the field and on the bench.
It was then down to penalties, where Jones, who scored a penalty in the opening 3-2 win over Curacao, muffed the opening penalty after Jermaine Taylor converted for the Reggae Boyz.
Both teams then scored their next two attempts each with Guerra and Molino scoring for T&T, and McAnuff and Demar Phillips scoring for the host to lead 3-2.
T&T goalkeeper Williams then made a low save to his right to deny a nervous Michael Seaton effort while Joevin Jones blasted into the roof of the net to get T&T back level at 3-3 after four attempts each.
Jamaican captain Rodolph Austin then scored for his team to lead 4-3 putting the pressure on Hyland who blasted his attempt high into the Montego Bay sky, handing the host victory.
Despite losing the final, T&T are through to next year's Concacaf Gold Cup while Jamaica will head to the 2015 Copa America (by invitation) and the 2016 Centennial Copa America.
T&T can still qualify for Copa America but will have to do so by finishing among the two play-off winners from among the four highest finishers in the Concacaf Gold Cup not already qualified, or finish winners of the 2015 Gold Cup.
The locally-based players and technical team was to return home last night while the European-based all returned to their respective clubs.
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Results
Final:
Jamaica 0 vs T&T 0 - Jamaica won 4-3 on penalty-kicks
Third place:
Haiti 2 (Jerome Mechack 56th, Wilde Donald Guerrier 86th) vs Cuba 1 (Ariel Gonzalez 89th).
Teams
T&T: 21.Jan-Michael Williams (GK); 2.Justin Hoyte, 26.Aubrey David, 6.Daneil Cyrus, 3.Joevin Jones; 14.Andre Boucaud (5.Kevan George 104), 8.Khaleem Hyland; 23.Lester Peltier (13.Cordell Cato 67), 10.Kevin Molino, 7.Hughtun Hector (11.Ataulla Guerra 82); 9.Kenwyne Jones (captain),
Unused substitutes: 1.Marvin Phillip (GK), 24.Adrian Foncette (GK), 12.Radanfah Abu Bakr, 15.Jamal Gay, 16.Shahdon Winchester, 17.Leston Paul, 18.Yohance Marshall, 19.Carlyle Mitchell, 27.Jonathan Glenn,
Coach: Stephen Hart
Jamaica : 1.Andre Bake (GK); 7.Hughan Gay, 5.Alvas Powell, 6.Jermaine Taylor, 20.Kemar Lawrence; 15.Je-Vaughn Watson, 17.Rodolph Austin (captain); 11.Dane Richards (16.Joel Grant 56), 10.Jobi McAnuff; 18.Simon Dawkins (12.Demar Phillips 71), 21.Darren Mattocks (9.Michael Seaton 91).
Unused substitutes: 13.Ryan Thompson (GK), 2.Nyron Nosworthy, 3.Craig Foster, 4.Upston Edwards, 8.Nicholay Finlayson.
Coach: Winfried Sch�fer