By NODLEY WRIGHT, Staff Reporter
Jamaican forward Onandi Lowe grimaces as he watches his shot ricochet off the right upright while beaten goalkeeper Wagner (in background) looks on, hoping the ball stays out. Also looking on are defenders Bruno Carvalho, Chino and Jorge Luiz. On the ground is Jamaica's Teofore Bennett. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
THE Reggae Boyz last night struggled to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over a Rio de Janeiro state team which ended the game with nine men at the National Stadium in front a crowd of 25,000.
Defender Goncalves opened the scoring for the Brazilians in the 14th minute at a time when they were in the ascendancy before the Jamaicans hit back in the 40th through another defender, Damion Stewart. After missing a number of chances Fabian Taylor finally found the winner in the 83rd minute.
The match, which was supposed to match the entertainment of the pre-game show, evolved into an ugly affair littered by fouls and dives. So physical did the game get that Mexican referee Marco Rodriquez Moreno ejected two Brazilians players, their coach Carlos Alberto Torres and dished out five yellow cards.
"We would like to play real football but unfortunately they put a referee that damaged the game. Eleven against eleven and I would be very sure that all the people would have the chance to watch a wonderful game but this way it was impossible to play," a then calm Torres said at the end of the game.
Jamaica's technical director Carl Brown was saddened by the turn the game took.
The Boyz' win was in early danger as the Brazilians looked more composed for the first 15 minutes. They made their better play count in the 14th minute, scoring from their second successive corner.
It was played in short to Bruno Carvalho, who crossed for Goncalves to head home past a helpless Donovan Ricketts.
Taylor had his first of a number of misses a minute later. After strike partner Onandi Lowe had got the better of a defender and played the ball off goalkeeper Wagner, the ball rolled kindly for Taylor who hesitated in front of an open goal and lost the opportunity.
Brazil went a man down in the 30th minute when Humberto was given a straight red card for a hard foul on Kelly who had to seek treatment.
With the one-man advantage Jamaica began to look like the better team approaching half time. At that time the Brazilians appeared to be tiring as veterans Bebeto and Careca lost their influence on the game.
A left-footed drive by Kelly was tipped over for a corner in the 40th minute. Whitmore's corner was caressed back towards the six-yard box for Stewart to sweep the ball home.
Jamaica continued to create and missed chances in the second half with perhaps the best one falling to Lowe in the 62nd minute. After Taylor had beaten his man to the right of the box, he crossed for Lowe to place into and empty gaol. The big man instead hit the upright.
Four minutes later Rio de Janeiro were down to nine with Bruno Carvalho ejected for his second yellow card for a foul on Wolry Wolfe.
