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Young Reggae Boyz rescued by late penalty

Published:Sunday | June 19, 2022 | 12:15 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter

Reading and Jamaica Under-20 player, Jahmari Clarke.
Reading and Jamaica Under-20 player, Jahmari Clarke.

JAMAICA WERE seconds away from a narrow defeat to start their Under-20 Concacaf Championship campaign.

However, English-born striker Jahmari Clarke, with their final chance, became the hero as his late penalty earned Jamaica a 1-1 draw with Costa Rica in their group opener yesterday at the Estadio General Francisco Morazan in Honduras.

Dorian Rodriguez scored the opener in the 58th minute but Clarke in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time rescued a point for Jamaica in a physical game, with constantly shifting momentum.

The first half saw the young Reggae Boyz go on the early offensive, putting the Costa Ricans under pressure, as well as dealing with early physicality that would persist throughout the game.

In the first 10 minutes, Mount Pleasant’s Tarick Ximines almost gave the Jamaicans the lead but saw his header sail over.

They would have the pick of the chances in the opening exchanges as Jamaica College’s Duncan McKenzie tried his luck from range but saw his effort curve wide to the relief of Costa Rican goalkeeper Bayron Mora.

Costa Rica proceeded to settle down and create chances of their own after absorbing the Jamaican pressure and came closest to taking the lead at the half-hour mark.

A free kick found the head of Douglas Sequeira and needed Jamaican goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke to make the save. Minutes later, Costa Rica had another opportunity as Ricardo Pena shot from outside the box sailed over the bar.

COSTA RICA STRIKE FIRST

The second half saw both teams try to grab the initiative, with Costa Rica having the better looks. Their patience paid off 12 minutes after the restart as Andrey Soto, who managed to keep the ball in play, delivered a cross to Rodriguez whose header sailed over the head of Boyce-Clarke and into the net.

Jamaica responded immediately as McKenzie’s pass found Zion Scarlett but his effort went over the bar.

Under-20 head coach, Marcel Gayle, who had made a change at the start of the second half, went back to his bench, introducing Clarke and Chad James in place of Scarlett and Tyler Roberts.

The two substitutes combined to give Jamaica a lifeline in the 72nd minute as James found Clarke, who was taken down by Julian Gonzalez in the box. The chance went a-begging after McKenzie’s spot kick was saved by Mora, diving to his left to prevent the equaliser.

While deflated, it did not stop the Jamaican surge as James did his part to cause problems for the Costa Ricans. Mora was forced into another save in the 77th minute as James got free inside the box.

In the final minute of stoppage time, Clarke was fouled in the box and was awarded a penalty, giving Jamaica a final chance at an equaliser.

This time he would take the responsibility, rolling his spot kick to the opposite side of Mora’s dive, much to the delight of the team and the coaching staff.

Jamaica will face host nation Honduras in their second group game tomorrow at 9:30 p.m

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com