Five-star Boyz trump Aruba to seal perfect group stage run

JAMAICA’S UNDER-14 Reggae Boyz defeated Aruba 5-0 to seal a perfect run in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U14 Boys Challenge Series. Jamaica finished atop Group A with four wins from as many games.

The fixture, played at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, was the second time the two teams met in the competition following Jamaica’s earlier 6-0 victory on Sunday.

In yesterday’s return game, Jamaica put five more goals past the Aruban custodian with goals from Corlando Morris, Davion Clarke, Samuel Taylor and Kelvin Brown confirming the win for the Boyz.

It was a cagey start for the young Boyz, however, as Aruba did their best to stifle any creativity in the early minutes of the match.

Aruba would get their best opportunity of the game in the 10th minute of play. A free kick just outside the box forced a save from goalkeeper Heron Lamie.

It was all Jamaica for the rest of the proceedings as in a 10-minute blitz, Jamaica found the net thrice with Morris getting a first-half brace.

BLAST HOME

He would open the scoring in the 21st minute when he reacted first to a loose ball in the penalty box to blast home on the turn.

He returned for his second goal of the match just seven minutes later, burying a free kick to the right of a diving Justin Vermeer in the Aruban net.

Clarke made it three for the Boyz, dancing his way into the box to finish home from close range.

Jamaica would score their fourth and Taylor’s first goal of the game just before the hour mark. A speculative cross into the box was met with a looping header by Taylor which fell just under the cross bar and into the net.

Brown would put his stamp on the win minutes before the final whistle, using his pace to outrun his marker and finish past the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.

The win means Jamaica top Group A with 12 points and have booked a semifinals date against the runners-up in Group B of the competition.

The semifinals are set to kick off on Friday at the same venue.