Demolition job: U20 Boyz drub Cayman Islands 9-0

Jamaica continued their perfect run at the Concacaf Men’s U20 Qualifiers as they dispatched the Cayman Islands 9-0 yesterday at the Stadion Rignaal ‘Jean’ Francisca in Curacao to pick up their third straight win.

Odane Wilberforce (19th minute) opened the scoring for the Boyz before Giovanni Taylor (28th, 32nd) bagged a second half brace.

Orel Miller (52nd) grabbed the team’s fourth in the second half before Claver Nugent (71st), Jahmarie Nolan (78th, 89th, 90th+4) and Jabarie Howell (87th) added their names to the scoresheet.

The Boyz started the game with attacking intent as they went searching for the opening goal from kick-off.

The breakthrough came in the 19th minute as the young Boyz pressed with intensity.

Defender Marlon van de Wetering continued his promising form as he picked up another assist at the tournament as his corner found the head of Wilberforce who directed the ball into the back of the net.

The Boyz were not satisfied with just one goal, however, as they struck again nine minutes later, this time through Taylor.

A handball in the Cayman box handed Jamaica a penalty which Taylor stepped up to take.

The Arnett Gardens attacker needed two bites at the cherry to score as his initial shot was saved by the goalkeeper, which he followed up on to blast home.

He returned for a first-half brace as the Cayman custodian was a second too late in his reaction to Taylor’s well-struck hit from outside the box.

Jamaica started the second half much like the first and immediately went hunting for goals, finding purchase just seven minutes after the restart.

A brilliant build up play allowed Miller to send the ball into the back of the net inside a crowded penalty box.

WORK OF ART

Jamaica’s fifth was a work of art as interchanging passes around the Cayman backline allowed second-half substitute Nugent to run free in the box and hit the back of the net.

Nolan added his name to the scoresheet as he ran on to a defence-splitting pass from Raequan Campbell-Dennis to curl his shot around the goalkeeper.

The Boyz piled on the pressure with Howell getting his goal as he beat the goalkeeper at his near post with a well-placed effort.

Nolan scored his second when he ran through to finish off a cross into the box before completing his hat-trick with a stunning curling effort in the dying moments of the game.

EARLIER GAMES

In the group’s earlier games, St Kitts and Nevis played out a 1-1 draw with Bonaire with Mona High standout Savi-K Morton scoring the lone goal for St Kitts.

In the other game, Puerto Rico continued their perfect run in the group as well as they dispatched the Turks and Caicos Islands 4-0 in comfortable fashion.

With the results, Jamaica maintain their spot atop Group B as they sit on nine points, tied with Puerto Rico.

However, Jamaica hold the advantage with a better goal difference.

The group winners will advance to the Concacaf Men’s U20 Championship, where they will join the six pre-seeded teams from the region.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com