Utter Rubbish from the Reggae Boyz

Photo: Panamanian defender Richard Dixon out jumps Giles Barnes to head clear in the World Cup qualifier on Friday night at the National Stadium. Panama defeated Jamaica 2-0.

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz were held at gunpoint and were robbed 2-0 by tricky Panamanian team in their opening game in the fourth round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign at “The Office” on Friday night. A peach of a free kick from Armando Cooper and an own goal from Wes Brown was enough to ensure Panama head home with three points in the bag.

Coach Winifred Schaefer was absent, sitting out a one match ban, while the boys went in search of their first victory over Panama in a World Cup qualifier. Assistant Head Coach Miguel Coley was seen in a nonchalant mood with arms folded while calling the shots from the technical area. The Boyz got off to a very slow start and were starved of possession by a well drilled Panama team.

The first real intent by the Panama team came in the 6th minute when Anibal Godoy played through Armando Cooper on top of the box but before he could pull the trigger he was closed down brilliantly by arguable the best player on the night for Jamaica Kemar ‘Taxi’ Lawrence. A lethargic lackadaisical Reggae Boyz gave the Panama team all the time in the world on the ball to come at them.

In the 10th minute goal keeper Duwayne Kerr was forced into his first save, which he handled comfortably from a free kick. With a midfield that was offering very little in terms of creativity and coverage Panama channelled most of their attacks through the middle while their goal keeper Jose Calderon only touched the ball whenever there was a back pass from his defenders. In the 17th minute Adolfo Machado’s quick feet was enough to shake off his marker Kemar Lawrence and he whipped in a teasing cross but Kerr plucked it out of the air before it could reach the forehead of Alberto Quintero.

Panama ‘s dominance

Getting the better of the Jamaicans in previous games and currently out playing them on their own patch, the visitors seems the team most likely to score. In minute 22 Anibal Godoy cheeky lofted pass found Valentin Pimentel whose shot whistled past the upright.

Jamaica’s first real chance came on the half hour mark when Darren Mattocks brilliantly tucked home a Garath McCleary’s cross but the goal was disallowed because of an offside call by the referee.

The Can Los Canaleros continued to string passes imitating the tika taka, give and go Bracelona brand of football, much to the delight of the small contingent of traveling supporters. Three minutes before the interval Chelsea’s new boy Micheal Hector gave away a frivolous free kick on the edge of the box. Armando Cooper confidently placed the ball then took three measured steps backwards. With his hands on hips like Charles Bronson from the Wild Wild West, his well weighted free kick rainbowed over Duwayne Kerr’s head and into the far side of the goal. The silence was deafening, only the drums of the Panamanian fans echoed through the stadium. Panama ended the half with their tales up high like a pony on a hot summer day.

After what should have been a fierce team talk at the break, the fans expected the home side to put the pieces of the puzzle together but they continued to struggle to connect with their passes and was forced into numerous long wayward boots down field which created very little danger to Panama’s defence.

Seven minutes into the second half, an attempted cross by Alberto Quintero from the left side into the danger area was turned home inadvertently by Jamaican defender Wes Morgan, much to the delight of the visitors. After the second goal Panama decided to play behind the ball to ensure they walked away victors.

Do or die

Two goals behind and not a single shot on target, things seems bleakly for the Reggae Boyz. However, they managed to mount a few good attacks in the closing stages, particularly through substitute Dever Orgill who went close, on two occasions, in his few minutes on the field.

In a tough Group B, considered the Group of Death, the Boyz are left with a steep mountain to climb if they are to progress into the final phase. Only the two top teams from each of the three fourth-round groups will advance to the final round of qualifying for the Russia World Cup Finals. Their next game is a tricky one against Haiti in Port-au-Prince next Tuesday. They too lost their opening game, going down 1-0 to Costa Rica. Win at all cost must be ringing in the heads of the Boyz and hope the alleged wage dispute is settled by the opening whistle Tuesday night.