WALTER ALIBEY
walter.alibey@guardian.co.tt
T&T'S Soca Warriors and the Jamaica's Reggae Boyz played to a goalless draw in the second international friendly match at the 'Office' in Kingston, Jamaica last night.
The result confined the home team to a 1-0 loss in the two-match series, but both coaches Angus Eve from T&T and the Reggae Boyz' Heimir Hallgrimsson would have been satisfied with what they saw ahead of the final rounds of matches of the CONCACAF Nations League to be played later this month.
Jamaica, following their 1-0 loss in the opening match on Saturday, looked more purposeful from the start but they lacked the final touch in the final third. In spite of this, however, it was the Warriors who created the more dangerous chances, and at one point it took the brilliance of substitute goalkeeper Kemar Foster to prevent another T&T win.
In search of a victory, the Jamaicans took early control of the midfield where the Chelsea duo of Dujuan Richards and Omari Hutchinson were joined by Lamar Walker and Demario Phillips to create a force to be reckoned with early, however, they struggled to break down the resolute T&T defence, marshalled by Josiah Trimmingham.
T&T needed some luck in the 21st minute when the speedy Reon Moore, the scorer of the lone T&T goal in the first match, led a T&T build-up when he picked out Jomal Williams on the right side. The latter, confronted at the edge of the box, released for the onrushing Alvin Jones whose drive from outside sailed over the crossbar.
Ten minutes later Williams was the beneficiary of another Moore pass on the right side, but after he skilfully turned past his marker, his powerful low drive took a deflection before going wide.
Jamaica would have themselves to blame for not taking the lead in the 35th minute. Demnario Phillips broke the T&T offside trap from a telling Walker-lifted pass, and though he had the first touch to put the ball in position for the shot, Phillips surprisingly turned away from the goal, as the Jamaicans offered no shot at goal.
Three minutes before the stroke of half-time, Dujuan Richards carved his way inside the T&T defence on the left, but from an acute angle, his low drive was pushed wide by Marvin Phillip, as the teams went to the halfway interval with the scores at zero.
Upon the return to play, the Jamaicans again took control of the midfield, dominating the possession, but they could not get their shots on target or past Phillip. Demario Phillips benefitted from a defensive blunder in the T&T defence, but his attempt at goal sailed wide.
With the teams also using the matches to scout new players, Eve would have been happy with substitute Kaile Auvray who proved to be a thorn in the Jamaica side upon his entry.
In the 74th minute, Auvray used his speed to get past three defenders before being hacked down on top of the Jamaican area. And four minutes later, the Warriors were lucky not to eke out a win when Moore outpaced his markers to get inside of the Jamaican danger area, however, his low left-footed shot was fisted wide by Foster in the 78th minute.
Auvray again used his speed to telling effect down the right flank before delivering a pin-point cross to Moore inside the Jamaica box but Moore's first touch let him down, as the teams finished the encounter goalless.
T&T TEAM:
Marvin Phillip (GK), 4. Josiah Trimmingham, 6. Kareem Riley, 7. Noah Powder, 10. Kadeem Corbin, 12. Jameel Neptune, 13. Reon Moore, 16. Alvin Jones, 17. Justin Garcia, 18. Matthew Woo Ling, 20. Jomal Williams.
Subs
Jelani Felix, 3. Joevin Jones, 5. Andre Raymond, 8. Michel Poon Angeron, 9. Nathaniel James, 11. Jamoul Francois, 14. John-Paul Rochford, 15. Kaile Auvray, 19. Quesi Weston, 21. Denzil Smith, 22. Adrian Foncette (GK), 23. Jesse Williams, 24. Justin Sadoo
JAMAICA TEAM:
Ricardo Thomas, 7. Lamar Walker, 8. Demario Phillips, 12. Dujuan Richards, 13. Jahmali Waite (GK), 17. Jahsaun Anglin, 18. Omari Hutchinson, 19. Adrian Mariappa, 20. Dexter Lembikisa, 24. Jamoi Topey, 25. Collin Anderson
Subs
, 1. Kemar Foster (GK), 2. Alwayne Harvey, 3. Dwayne Atkinson, 4. Tyler Roberts, 6. Richard King, 9. Trivante Stewart, 10. Ravel Morrison, 11. Jourdain Fletcher, 14. Sue-Lae McCalla, 15. Oshane Staple, 21. Delano Splatt, 22. Fitzroy Cummings, 23. Hutchinson (GK).