Flemmings strikes late for Boyz

A late strike by second-half substitute Junior Flemmings made the difference as Jamaica defeated Guadeloupe 2-1 in their second Group C game of the 2021 Gold Cup played yesterday at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

An own goal by defender Amari’i Bell in the fourth minute gave Guadeloupe the lead before Cory Burke restored parity in the 14th minute. Flemmings 87th-minute goal completed the comeback as Jamaica put themselves in pole position to advance to the quarter-finals.

Despite the result, head coach Theodore Whitmore felt that the team did not play up to the intensity that he had hoped.

“It’s not the kind of performance that we expected from the guys but nonetheless, the result is important. We made it difficult for ourselves. It wasn’t Guadeloupe who made it difficult for us,” Whitmore said.

It was Guadeloupe that got off to the perfect start in the fourth minute. After a Jamaican free kick in the opposing half was cleared, midfielder Dimitri Ramonthe managed to storm into the Reggae Boyz’s penalty area and his attempted pass was deflected by defender Amari’i Bell past goalkeeper Andre Blake and into the net.

However, Guadeloupe’s lead only lasted just 10 minutes as Blair Turgott managed to win the ball in the opposing half and his pass found Cory Burke who fired a low curling shot into the bottom corner, leaving Guadeloupe goalkeeper Yohann Thuram-Ulien rooted to the spot.

Jamaica had opportunities to break through the Guadeloupe defence and in the 24th minute, Leon Bailey thought he had given the Reggae Boyz the lead. He was put through on goal and despite Thuram-Ulien blocking his first attempt, he chipped the ball in the back of the net but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Jamaica would get closer to a second goal in the 38th minute as Burke nodded a cross into the path of Shamar Nicholson but could not make proper contact and Thuram-Ulien managed to make the save.

CHANCES CREATED

But Jamaica’s best chance to take the lead came in the 60th minute when Burke managed to speed away from the Guadeloupe defence and his low cross was placed in the path of Nicholson but the latter fired his effort over the bar. But it was just beginning of the surge in attacks that the Reggae Boyz generated that put the ‘Gwada Boys’ under relentless pressure. Nicholson had another chance blocked in the 61st minute and four minutes later Bailey’s low drive was saved by Thuram-Ulien.

It seemed that Jamaica’s pressure would not yield the desired result but three minutes from full-time, Bailey managed to find Flemmings who darted past the defence and scored from close range. Jamaica dominated possession (55 per cent to 45) and had 17 shots, seven of them on target compared to Guadeloupe’s six shots, three of them on target.

Jamaica’s final group game will be against Costa Rica on Tuesday.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com

Jamaica Guadeloupe

Shots 17 6

Shots on Goal 7 3

Possession 55% 45%

Passing Accuracy 82% 79%

Fouls 20 20

Yellow Cards 3 1

Red Cards 0 0

Jamaica: Andre Blake, Damion Lowe, Liam Moore, Amari’i Bell (Kemar Lawrence 70th minute),

Alvas Powell, Michael Hector (Junior Flemmings 60th minute),

Daniel Johnson, Leon Bailey, Blair Turgott (Devon Williams 60th minute)

Cory Burke, Shamar Nicholson (Andre Gray 81st minute)