Cup hopes nose-dive

By Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter

GOAL - Jamaican defenders Chris Dawes (left), Frank Sinclair on the ground and Linval Dixon watch as the ball sails into the Jamaican net off the boot of Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Mexican forward Jared Borgetti is in front of Dixon while goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence is on the ground. Mexico won 2-1.

JAMAICA'S hopes of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan took a significant blow yesterday when they were beaten 2-1 by a superior-looking Mexico at the National Stadium.

Substitute Cuauhtemoc Blanco was the primary destroyer for Mexico with the two vital strikes in the 62nd and 75th minutes.

The win ended Jamaica's unbeaten streak at the National Stadium which began after Reggae Boyz lost to the United States in 1994. Since that time they had piled up a record of 51 matches including 47 internationals.

Jamaica took the lead in the 14th minute through an own goal from defender Heriberto Morales under pressure from big striker Onandi Lowe.

With three teams set to qualify from the region Costa Rica are almost certain qualifiers with 16 points followed by the United States with 13, Honduras 11 and Mexico 10. Jamaica remain on eight points and fall to fifth but technical director Clovis de Oliveira is holding on to the hope of a miraculous qualification.

"First of all it did not finish anything. Mathematically we have a chance... we have to keep fighting. Of course it becomes more difficult (following this loss) but still we have chance. Until the chances are finished we are going to continue going," the visibly disappointed Brazilian said.

Playing before a capacity crowd of over 35,000, the Reggae Boyz started confidently as they took the game to the visitors and looked the better team - briefly. They relied on the power of Onandi Lowe up front to trouble the Mexican defence while closing down the space of playmakers Alberto Garcia Aspe and the real danger Jesus Arellano.

Jamaica had the first real chance at goal in the sixth minute when the opportunistic Burton failed to find the back of the net after being beautifully set up by Lowe. With the pass disecting the defence and only the goalkeeper to beat, Burton blasted the ball into goalkeeper Oscar Perez's body.

The tactic of playing to Lowe paid off eight minutes later. Benefitting from good combination play between Theodore Whitmore and Burton, Lowe collected a cross from the latter and blasted on goal. Perez half stopped the ball and with Lowe veering down on him, Morales kicked the ball into his own net.

From then on as if surprised by their good fortune, Jamaica lost their game plan as Mexico came more into their own. Mexico had their first real chance at goal in the 24th minute when Juan Palencia lost Gardner and screwed his shot across the goal from a good angle. A minute later Jared Borgetti would have his tame header snapped up by Lawrence.

With a minute to go before half time, Lowe who had earlier earned himself a yellow card for a foolish foul, flicked the ball over German Villa and ran past him midway the half. The Mexican pulled down the striker and the lenient referee gave him a yellow card. Not much came of the resulting freekick from Fitzroy Simpson.

The second half was almost all Mexico. They adjusted themselves with Borgetti and Palencia often falling back into midfield and allowing Arellano to drift down the right flank where he toyed with Gardner.

Within three minutes of the resumption Borguetti found the back of the net but it was ruled offside. Three minutes later Lowe failed to get onto the end of a teasing cross from Sinclair who was quite sturdy in defence.

Both teams created and missed opportunities as Mexico played a game of possession.

Blanco levelled the score after Arellano shrugged off a poor challenge from Gardner and crossed. Borgetti dummied the ball and took defender Linval Dixon with him opening up the space for Blanco to convert.

Jamaica made the double change of introducing Paul Hall and Andy Williams for Burton and Whitmore but they could not stem the flow of the now almost one-way traffic.

Blanco wrapped up the match in the 75th from another Arellano cross. Dixon tried in vain to get the ball out but only succeeded in glancing it to Blanco who did the rest. For the remainder of the game Mexico kept possession of the ball and defended well even bringing on Claudio Suarez for Arellano - a clear case of strategy change.

TEAMS -

Jamaica: Aaron Lawrence; Christopher Dawes, Linval Dixon (captain), Tyrone Marshall, Frank Sinclair, Ricardo Gardener; Darryl Powell (Barry Hayles, 75th minute), Theodore Whitmore (Andrew Williams, 64th minute), Fitzroy Simpson; Deon Burton (Paul Hall, 64th minute), Onandi Lowe.

Mexico: Oscar Perez; Herberto Morales, Rafael Marquez, Manuel Vidiro, Adrian Martinez; Alberto Garcia Aspe, German Villa (Cuauhtemoc Blanco, 45th minute), Jesus Arellano (Claudio Suarez, 85th minute); Ramon Morales, Jared Borgetti, Juan Palencia (Sigifredo Mercado, 75th minute).

Back to Sport