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Jamaica surrender big lead, but move into beach soccer quarters

Published:Tuesday | March 31, 2015 | 1:33 PMMarc Stamp
Ricardo Makyn
Anderson Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer Jamaica's Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson in action in a CONCACAF final round World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica at the National Stadium last Tuesday. Anderson scored in injury time to earn a 1-1 draw for the Reggae Boyz. *** Local Caption *** File Anderson ... scored two goals in Monday night's match

Jamaica's beach soccer team will tackle either the United States or The Bahamas in the 2015 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship knockout stage in El Salvador tomorrow as they aim to move closer to a spot in the FIFA World Cup in July in Portugal.

The Andrew Price-coached team advanced to the quarter-finals despite a 7-4 loss handed down by hosts El Salvador in a Group A encounter on Monday night.

El Salvador topped the group with maximum nine points, three clear of Jamaica, followed by Belize (three) and Puerto Rico, which ended without a point.

In the game on Monday night at Estadio de F?tbol Playa in Costa del Sol, Jamaica rushed into a healthy 4-0 lead after the opening nine minutes. Jermaine 'Tuffy' Anderson scored in the second and eighth minutes. Then Derrick Planter (sixth) and Daemion Benjamin (ninth) sent the Jamaicans into a big lead.

However, El Salvador fired back with a hat-trick from JosÈ Ruiz (14th, 19th, 30th), Ruben Batres (31st, 32nd), Francisco Velasquez (28th) and Abraham Henriquez (17th).

In earlier matches, Jamaica defeated Puerto Rico 7-3 last Saturday, before registering an 8-5 triumph over Belize on Sunday.

Rohan Reid is Jamaica's top scorer, with six goals, heading into the knockout stage.

The tournament serves as the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualifier for teams from CONCACAF, where the two finalists will advance to the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup between July 9-19 in Portugal.

This is the first time that the CONCACAF Beach Soccer World Cup qualifiers is taking place in Central America.