Gordon Williams, Contributor
Ghana's Asamoah Gyan (right) challenges Jamaica's Marlon King during their international friendly soccer match at the Walkers stadium in Leicester, central England yesterday. Ghana won 4-1. - REUTERS
LEICESTER, England:
A SPIRITED second half by Jamaica could not undo the sins of a sloppy opening stanza and some unfortunate bounces of the ball which doomed the Reggae Boyz to a lopsided 4-1 defeat by World Cup-bound Ghana here yesterday.
Jamaica never fully recovered from a tardy arrival at Walkers Stadium, which embarrassingly forced the kick-off of the international football friendly to be delayed close to 30 minutes, and found themselves down by two goals at the half courtesy of poor marking, inefficient use of the ball and limited tactical awareness, as the fit West Africans swarmed all over them with speed and skill.
"We were a little bit lethargic in the first half," conceded technical director Wendell Downswell after the match, the first of a two-game tour of England which concludes on June 3 against the formidable host country at Old Trafford, Manchester.
The Boyz were flatly outhustled. But if that wasn't enough, Jamaica got an early wake-up call, falling behind in the sixth minute. Striker Asamoah Gyan easily slipped his marker to send a thunderous shot on target which was blocked by goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, but only as far as the onrushing Sulley Muntari who easily slotted the ball into the net.
The pressure mounted steadily after that as Jamaica failed to match the intensity of the Ghanians and could hardly couple any passes together. Desperation appeared to creep in as well and Jamaica's central defender Claude Davis earned a caution for a tackle on star midfielder Michael Essien in the seventh minute as Ghana combined slick ball handling with swift interchanging movement, led by captain Stephen Appiah.
It was Appiah who gave Jamaica a second jolt in the 19th minute. His fierce volley off a headed clearance by Jamaica's defence was inadvertently deflected into Jamaica's goal by Damion Stewart as the Ghana crowd, highly vocal in the less-than-half filled 32,000 capacity stadium, erupted with horns and waving flags.
LIMIT
Jamaica were limited to two incisive moves in the first half. The first came in the 36th minute, when Khari Stephenson found overlapping right back Omar Daley with a beautiful diagonal pass. But Daley's swerving cross was headed wide of the mark by forward Luton Shelton. Three minutes later busy midfielder Jamal Campbell-Ryce's cross from the right was mishandled by Ghana's goalkeeper Sammy Adjei. The ball fell to advancing midfielder Jason Euell, but he spooned it over the crossbar.
The Boyz, who played much of the first half under sunny skies after a steady downpour, heated up the pace even as the clouds again moved in, dropping the temperature to cooler levels. Ricardo Fuller replaced Shelton to join Marlon King up front and Jamaica looked far more purposeful, stitching passes together and forcing Ghana back on defence. The effort paid off in the 56th minute. Crawford, whose game improved markedly in the second half, drilled a 25-yard free kick which Adjei fluffed into the path of Euell who cut Ghana's lead in half.
"The second half we came out much more positive," Downswell said. "Unfortunately we conceded a goal against the run of play."
That misfortune by Jamaica arrived in the 66th minute. Ghana quickly counter-attacked on another lost possession by Jamaica in midfield. The ball was played wide to Appiah whose powerful drive deflected off the retreating Davis and once again wrong-footed Ricketts on its way into the net.
Still stunned by Ghana's reply, Jamaica gave up another soft goal two minutes later. This time Ricketts spilled a bouncing shot by Gyan, who had swiftly cut inside Jamaica's defence. The fumble was met by Amoah who knocked the simple opportunity into the net.
Despite the loss, Downswell still believes the Reggae Boyz will enter the England game with renewed purpose, especially with the addition of skilful midfielder Jermaine Hue who arrived in England yesterday from his club in the United States.
"We are quite confident," the technical director said. "...We see the England game as our World Cup. As a former colony (of England) we will be highly motivated and charged up for the game."
The players too promised an improved showing against the hosts.
"Playing against England will be different," said captain Ricketts. "Come Saturday you will see a different (Jamaican) effort.
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
