Morgan takes heart from Boyz efforts

ANTOFAGASTA, Chile:

CENTRAL defender Wes Morgan believes a tough team talk may have put the pep in the step of the Reggae Boyz for their improved play in the second half of their Copa America football match against Paraguay that they lost 1-0 on Tuesday night at Calvo y Bascunan stadium.

"We couldn't get going for one reason or the other. It wasn't easy. Obviously they had a game plan and it worked on us and we couldn't really get forward in the game," Morgan said of the stifling high-press play of the Paraguayans, which barrelled them into their own half for much of the period and significantly limited their offensives.

"But we did well to go in 1-0 down at half time, but second half we showed much more character and be much better."

Actually, Jamaica only got off one shot, Kemar Lawrence's effort after half hour from nearly 35 yards, which went harmlessly into the arms of the goalkeeper.

To back that up, Paraguay, losing finalists against Uruguay in the last championship, bombarded the Jamaican defence and forced a number of saves out of goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr.

Costly error

Ironically, it was an error from Kerr that led to the game's only goal, which was scored by Edgar Benitez at the 36th minute.

Jamaica, playing in the 'Group of Death' with both tournament finalists and the beaten World Cup finalists, Argentina, were outstanding in their first match against Uruguay and created enough chances to have won. But they lost 1-0.

Morgan, who captain's Leicester City, which pulled off a revival of mammoth proportions to easily stave off relegation in the English Premier League, said despite their poor first-half showing, the one-goal margin gave them belief in Tuesday's match, when they improved big time to take over the game in the last half hour and almost drew level twice.

"Ever since we came into this competition, we knew it was never going to be easy, but in the first game we gave a good account of ourselves against obviously the holders of this competition and we didn't play as good as we can do against Paraguay, but being 1-0 down you always feel like you got a chance to get something out of the game," he admitted.

"We tried towards the end, but we couldn't find that goal. It's very disappointing, but on the plus side it is only 1-0."

- A.B.