Flemmings' last-gasp goal rescues point for U20 Boyz

Livingston Scott, STAR Writer

Junior Flemmings' added-time free kick saved Jamaica from the jaws of defeat, as they came from 2-0 down to escape with a 2-2 draw against bitter Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago in their opening Under-20 CONCACAF Championship game at the National Stadium last night.

Aikim Andrews (sixth) and Kadeem Corbin (15th) put Trinidad 2-0 up at the break, but Donjay Smith pulled a goal back for the hosts at the 67th minute, before Flemmings' late goal salvaged a point for the desperate Jamaicans.

The Trinidadians shrugged off their early jitters, and six minutes into the contest, they were gifted an opportunity when goalkeeper Nicholas Nelson's poor distribution found Andrews, who took a couple of touches before firing past the Jamaican custodian to silence the home crowd.

The young Soca Warriors continued to have the better of their Caribbean arch-rivals, and 10 minutes later, Corbin cut inside from the right, before unleashing a superb strike that gave Nelson no chance in goal, as they doubled their lead.

After the break, the Trinis squandered chance after chance to extend their advantage, but only had themselves to blame for faulty finishing.

precise free kick

Fifteen minutes before the end, the hosts were thrown a lifeline when substitute Donjay Smith headed home a cross from Flemmings to halve the deficit.

The young Boyz then had their best spell of the game afterwards, as they created a number of chances but could not convert.

However, in time added, the Jamaicans received a free kick on the edge of the area, and Flemmings, the Jamaica College captain, stepped up and curled a precise free kick past the Trinidad custodian, to send the stadium into ecstasy.

"This is not schoolboy football, this is international football; it is more intense and much faster. But all I did was follow the instructions of the coach, and we came out (second-half) and really stuck to the task," Flemmings said.

Jamaica's coach, Theodore Withmore, said his team started the game flat and were lucky to come away with a point.

"As host, this is not the result we wanted. We gave up two goals in the first-half, and luckily we came back to get a draw, so we are satisfied with the one point," he commented.

Trinidad's coach, Derrick King, said their lapse in concentration in the second period cost them full points.

"We should have been more patient instead of trying to hurry the play," he stated.

Panama sit atop the group with maximum three points. Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the USA, and Guatemala are all tied on one point.

In the curtain-raiser, Panama beat Aruba 4-0 with goals from Ismael Leon (19th, 50th) and one each from Ervin Perez (30th) and Edson Record (36th).

In the second game, José Rumph's last-minute equaliser for Guatemala earned a 1-1 draw and point against group favourites USA.