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Colombia's Camilo Zuniga (18) battling Jamaica's Ryan Johnson (9) during the first half of the friendly match in Florida yesterday. Colombia won 2-0. - AP
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, United States:
Jamaica slumped to their fourth defeat in a row after the Reggae Boyz were beaten 2-0 by Colombia in a friendly football international last night.
A 55th minute goal from Teofilo Guitierrez and a 91st minute tap in by substitute Jackson Martinez ensured the losing streak, which started in June at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and continued against China and Ecuador, was extended at the Lockhart Stadium.
The Reggae Boyz were whipped 5-2 by Ecuador last Friday in Quito. That defeat followed a 1-0 away loss to China on August 10 and a 2-0 body blow by the United States, which knocked Jamaica out of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup in June.
The Boyz will now have to wait for the next international fixture, possibly in October, to try and break the disappointing run.
Despite not being in command all evening, and surviving near misses by Colombia to widen the scoreline, Jamaica created several opportunities themselves throughout and must have felt unlucky to at least not entering the score sheet when second half substitute Omar Daley's penetrating dribble in the 80th minute ended with a thunderous right foot shot that crashed against the crossbar with Colombia's goalkeeper David Ospina beaten.
The game got off to a late start in a steady drizzle, which contributed to some early wayward passing by both teams on the slick surface. Yet, it was the Reggae Boyz employing a 4-4-2 formation, who provided the early spark in front of a crowd occupying roughly half of the 20,000 capacity stadium, but featuring barely a sprinkling of Jamaicans.
In the fourth minute Dane Richards collected a pass from Shavar Thomas near the half line and raced towards goal. But his shot under pressure, from just inside the penalty box, was parried for a corner by Ospina.
Two minutes later Errol Stevens, showing confidence on the ball in his debut for Jamaica, went by a defender down the left flank and crossed into the middle. The ball was headed away, but straight to Rodolph Austin at the top of the box. His volley, however, was well off target. Austin tried to redeem himself in the 15th, bursting into the box. But his shot was also to the near post and pushed away for another corner by Ospina.
A minute later Colombia's first real threat came via a mistake by Jamaica's defence, which showed worrying cracks throughout. Striker Falcao Garcia collected the ball, beat two defenders but shot straight to goalkeeper Dwayne Miller, who was called on to make several big saves on a busy night.
Colombia pressed forward, gradually looking more dangerous, but Jamaica came close again in the 35th minute courtesy of an acrobatic bicycle kick by Demar Phillips that narrowly missed the upright. A screaming left footer from nearly 30 yards by Ryan Johnson just skimmed the crossbar two minutes later.
But Colombia slowly grew in confidence. They took a deserved lead when Falcao's pinpoint cross to the far post found strike partner Guitierrez who easily slotted past Miller.
Jamaica tried to step up the tempo late in the game, making several substitutions, one forced by an injury to captain Thomas. They came close again, but Phillips's stinging free kick from just outside the box went straight to Ospina who batted it away, and that was followed by Daley's brilliant, but failed effort. It was left to Jackson to put the icing on the cake for Colombia after Miller parried another powerful shot into his path.
Colombia's Falcao Garcia (9) battles Jamaica's Rodolph Austin (17) with compatriot Carlos Sanchez during their friendly match in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last night. Colombia won 2-0. - AP
