Stalemate!

WITH THEIR FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in tatters and desperately in need of points to get back into the race, Jamaica battled tooth a nail to secure a 0-0 draw with Canada at the National Stadium in Kingston yesterday evening.

With goals leaking all round and his team in need of a strong defensive performance, Theodore Whitmore made four changes to his starting team, bringing in Oniel Fisher at right full back, Anthony Grant at central midfield, Junior Flemmings at attacking midfield, and Kemar Roofe up front.

And with Adrian Mariappa and Je-Vaughn Watson putting in a strong shift, Jamaica tightened up where they had been worse in four previous matches to keep a clean sheet and help Jamaica advance their tally to two points, even while they still sit bottom of the eight-nation qualifiers.

“We were solid in defence, and that is something we worked on from the US game. It’s something we’ve worked on and can build on going forward,” said Theodore Whitmore, Jamaica’s head coach.

Reflecting on losing games against Mexico, the United States and Panama, Whitmore said: “I’d be satisfied with all three points today, but keeping a clean sheet is a positive. I’m very pleased with the entire unit. We worked as a team and battled together.”

Canada, meantime, inched up to seven points but slipped to fourth as they were overtaken by Panama, who registered an unexpected 1-0 win at home against the United States. Both teams now have eight points.

Mexico registered a 3-0 win at home over Honduras to stay at the top of the table on 11 points. Honduras stayed on three points, while Costa Rica beat El Salvador 2-1 in San José to move to fifth on six points, one more than El Salvador.

UNDER PRESSURE

Canada’s head coach, John Herdsman, said with Jamaica under pressure to earn points, “I think it was what we expected.

“We knew they were going to come out firing. We would’ve loved to have won three points, but we’re glad we were able to take two from Jamaica. I think this is a good point,” Herdman said. “Jamaica is a tough place to come and get a point.”

For the first half, Fisher had the greatest impact among the quartet as he kept a close tab on Canada’s most dangerous player, Bayern Munich left full back Alphonso Davies.

Though picking up a yellow card after only seven minutes, Fisher had Davies under wraps and kept him in check within the opening 45 minutes as he matched him with pace and closed him down quickly, often winning the ball off the Canadian attacking-minded defender.

That game within the game played big within the general context as Canada lost most of its potency as shown on two occasions when Davies roamed into midfield and generated attacks. Twice they came off, with the ball finding its way back to the foot of Davies inside the box, but he fired wide of Andre Blake scrambling. Next occasion, a rebound from a cross ended up with their captain, Doneil Henry, but his shot was charged down.

Mostly though, the teams were cancelling out each other with close marking and early tackling and this prevented either from maintaining a rhythm for any consistent period.

For Jamaica, Grant and Watson were involved in the midfield tussles and won a fair number of balls, with Grant literally putting his body on the line as he threw himself around. However, as there was not any great deal of fluency, the transitional play to the front line was not smooth, and Shamar Nicholson, with size and skilful displays on occasions, maintained Jamaica’s threat.

GLORIOUS OPPORTUNITIES

Twice, though, Jamaica got glorious opportunities to score and should have taken the lead at the 22nd minute when Kemar Lawrence served a free-kick from the left at goalmouth that was met by Kemar Roofe at six yards. However, the Jamaican striker glanced just wide of goal.

Then at the 38th minute, Bobby Reid served a cross from the right side of the penalty box to the far post, where Flemmings met the ball with a firm, goal-bound header. However, Alistair Johnston put his body on the line and prevented a certain goal.

The game had a couple stoppages, two for Powell after half-hour as he went down injured. Eventually, he was forced into substitution at the 38th minute, which led to tactical switches with Watson retreating to central defence and Devon ‘Speedy’ Williams taking up his central midfield role off the bench.

Williams, having played that position fairly often, was quite familiar and kept the Reggae Boyz balanced going into the second half, where both teams continued to battle evenly and create an opportunity apiece to the hour mark.

Davies hit a free kick wide at the 48th, and with both teams pouring out an honest effort and driving forward at every opportunity, Jamaica replied at the other end when Lawrence’s free kick from left was deflected on goal and saved in a scramble at goal mouth.

At minute 62, though, Canada got the clearest chance as Davies, floating to attract possession, drifted back into his favoured left position and took a pass going forward before slicing a grounded cross that went across goal to the far side. With Liam Millar racing on to the ball unchallenged and the goal gaping, a goal appeared certain until Blake scampered across and used his hands to block the ball from crossing the goal line.

Canada missed shortly after when substitute Stephen Eusqtaquio headed wide, but Jamaica kept fighting doggedly and Nicholson missed a desperate attempt at a diving header at the far post.

Both countries made changes, and Canada continued to dominate possession while pressing, but they were not generally dangerous. Jamaica, on the other hand, needed a creative push, and their game was screaming for an attacking option such as the skilful Tyreek Magee, especially with Roofe making no impression whatsoever.

HEROIC OPPORTUNITY

Having been extended the courtesy of a full run, Roofe got the chance to make a hero of himself when the Canadian defence opened up with him driving forward, with options wide. He went goalwards with a shot, but it went off mark.

Yet, with time running off the clock, there was more action to come, and defender Lawrence almost stole all three points for Jamaica with a surging run and powerful finish to the far post, only to be denied by an excellent save full stretch by Canadian custodian Maxine Crépeau.

The top three teams after 14 games will automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar next year, while the fourth-placed team goes into an inter-confederation playoff.

audley.boyd@gleanerjm.com

Jamaica:- 1-Andre Blake (captain), 19-Adrian Mariappa, 5-Alvas Powell, 8-Oniel Fisher, 20-Kemar Lawrence, 6-Anthony Grant, 15-Je-Vaughn Watson, 10-Bobby Reid (9-Jamal Lowe 74th), 12-Junior Flemmings (Javon East 74th), 7-Kemar Roofe, 11-Shamar Nicholson (18-Andre Gray 74th)

Subs:- 2-Jamoi Topey, 3-Javain Brown, 9-Jamal Lowe, 13-Dillon Barnes, 14-Javon East, 18-Andre Gray, 21-Tyreek Magee, 22-Devon Williams, Jeadine White (GK)

Canada:- 16-Maxime Crépeau, 2-Alistair Johnston, 3-Samuel Adekugbe (11-Jacob Shaffelburg 89th), 6-Samuel Piette (13-Liam Fraser 89th), 14-Mark-Anthony Kaye (7-Stephen Eustaquio 69th), 15-Doneil Henry (captain), 17-Liam Millar (8-David Wotherspoon 70th), 19-Alphonso Davies, 20-Jonathan David (9-Charles-Andreas Brym 89th), 21-Jonathan Osorio, 23-Derek Cornelius

Subs not used:- 1 James Pantemis (GK), 18-Dayne St Clair (GK), 4-Kamal Miller, 10-Junior Hoilett, 12-Zachary Brault-Guillard