Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

Jamaica's Shavor Brown (right) breaks past a Mexican opponent during the team's 2-0 victory on Friday night in their Under-17 firendly at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium.-Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

TRY AND try again until you are successful. This time Jamaica Under-17s were third-time lucky - defeating Mexico 2-0 in their second friendly at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium on Friday night.

It marked the first time a Jamaican football team had defeated world champions as in 2005 Mexico destroyed Brazil 3-0 in the final to lift the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Peru.

Last year, the young Reggae Boyz lost 2-1 to Mexico in Trinidad and they drew with the visitors 1-1 on Wednesday at Harbour View.

Captain Dever Orgill, who plays for Titchfield High in the daCosta Cup, opened the scoring in the 24th minute.

A moment of hesitation between Mexican goalkeeper Alfredo Medina and a defender allowed Orgill to toe-punch the ball powerfully in the roof of the net.

As play swung from end to end, Jamaica took control and it was not surprising when substitute Akeem Brown doubled Jamaica's lead and effectively killed off the game in the 85th minute.

Brown collected a ball about 30 metres out and fired a scorcher that flew over Medina's head to seal the victory. It was the first time Jamaica could stake claim to really outplaying Mexico in a football match at any level.

Winning coach David Hunt was ecstatic as he raced on to the field to congratulate his players as they huddled in the middle of the pitch.

"This is a great moment. I must dedicate this to Mr. Bora (Milutinovic) who advised us on some defensive strategies. We worked hard at them and it paid off today," said the silver-haired Hunt smiling from ear to ear. "Mexico did not get even one chance."

More possession, chances

"This is the third time we are playing Mexico. The first time in Trinidad we played them close and lost 2-1. You saw the game on Wednesday, we looked at the game and showed them that they did not have more possession of the ball and they did not get more chances than us.

"So we decided that we would hang back and counter them. The players did very well, we got numerous chances. This is a team (Mexico) that knows about gamesmanship and our team stood firm," noted Hunt.

The young Reggae Boyz used the games as part of their preparations for the final round of CONCACAF qualification for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup tournament that will be held in Kingston between April 21-29.

The group comprises hosts Jamaica, Canada, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of which three will advance to the World Cup in South Korea in August.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Under-17 team continued its preparations with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over an All Star Youth Team in the curtain-raiser.

Ellis McCloughin (sixth), Billy Schuler (79th) and Kirk Urso (87th) saw off a young and inexperienced local aggregation with ease.

Send comments to howard.walker@gleanerjm.com