By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Jamaica's goalscorer Marlon King (left) and teammate Claude Davis stand next to each other at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday, as Richard Langley (in background) looks on following the Reggae Boyz's arrival from Miami where they drew 1-1 with Haiti in a CONCACAF World Cup first-leg elimination match. - Ricardo Makyn / Staff Photographer
MIAMI, Florida:
JAMAICA'S TECHNICAL director, Carl Brown, described their 1-1 finish against Haiti as "a good result" and promised his Reggae Boyz will play "more relaxed" in the return leg first round CONCACAF World Cup qualifying match at the National Stadium in Kingston.
"I believe that we'll be a lot more relaxed and freer when we get to Kingston.
"We're now on a level scoreline, the result we got here tonight will allow us to be ourselves when we get to Kingston," Brown told The Gleaner at the Orange Bowl, Miami, after Saturday night's first leg encounter.
Brown welcomed the 1-1 draw despite giving up two penalties, one apiece on either side of the clock.
"It's a good result that we have not lost the game here, it was just as tough as I expected it would have been. Looking at the fact that we're going back home to play the return leg, one would feel happy we did not lose this game."
Jamaica's midfield wasn't at its best on Saturday night, resulting in Marlon King and Ricardo Fuller getting little or no help from Ricardo Gardener, Fabian Davis and Micah Hyde, while Garfield Reid was outplayed on the left flank.
However, Brown said all this was possible due to the Haitians' brilliance.
STRONG HAITIAN DEFENCE
"Credit should be given to the Haitian defenders, they really played very organised in the back and I think that was probably it," Brown explained.
He further stated: "We didn't play well as a team, we didn't settle down and play like we can play."
Haiti's coach Fernando Clavito, who said he knows what Jamaica can offer now, also promised a better game in Kingston.
"We are going to look at the tape and prepare for the next game," he told journalists. "What we did well, we are going to repeat it, it's going to be a war," he warned.
Clavito said Jamaica was lucky, but added: "We are going to win ... we have worked too hard for this," he continued.
