Jamaica's Ricardo Fuller (right) heads the ball as he is challenged by St Vincent and the Grenadines' Cornelius Huggins, during their international friendly victory (5-1) at the National Stadium on Wednesday night. The Reggae Boyz will tackle Trinidad and Tobago later in Trinidad. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Jamaica's Reggae Boyz and Trinidad and Tobago's Soca Warriors are set to write what is bound to be another enthralling chapter in one of the Caribbean's fiercest rivalries, when they lock horns in a 5 p.m. encounter at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, in Trinidad today.
When the teams last faced each other two months ago they played their way to a 2-2 draw at the National Stadium in Kingston, a fair result any neutral fan would suppose, but not for a Jamaica vs Trinidad friendly international.
Following the game, many local patrons had hissed and even booed as the Reggae Boyz, playing with a much more experienced team, easily outclassed a young Trinidad and Tobago team in the first half, but went on to concede two goals in the second half after a spate of changes by technical director René Simoes. The Trinidadian's present, on the other hand, celebrated the draw as if it was a victory for their young team.
Today's encounter should be an entirely different affair and with the start of the World Cup qualifiers just days away, both teams will look to field squads as close to full strength as possible.
Experienced player
While Simoes has left for the twin-island republic with 16 overseas-based players and is not likely to experiment as much ahead of the qualifier, Trinidad and Tobago's head coach, Francisco Maturana, has made sure to have a full contingent of experienced players at his disposal this time around.
However, both teams will suffer from key absences. Jamaica have to do without midfielder Andrew Williams, who returned to the United States for club duties with Major League soccer team Real Salt Lake. For Trinidad and Tobago, striker Kenwyne Jones, who plies his trade for English Premier League team Sunderland, has returned to England with a knee injury, while Southampton striker Stern John is also an unlikely inclusion after sustaining an injury in a 0-3 loss to England. Jason Scotland of Swansea City has been called in as a replacement for Jones.
While Simoes is disappointed to not have Williams - who recently came out of retirement - available for the game, he hopes other players will step up for the encounter.
New players
"It would have been nice to have Andy, but it is a chance to look at other players in the midfield, with the qualifiers coming up," Simoes said.
"We have new players in the team, we are still trying to build chemistry and that is what we will be hoping to see," he said.
The Jamaicans are coming off a 5-1 victory over St Vincent and the Grenadines and will tackle Grenada on Tuesday. Trinidad and Tobago beat Grenada 2-0 a little over a month ago and then beat Guyana 3-0 in a 'closed door' match on Wednesday. The Guyana team is currently having a camp in Trinidad and both teams utilised the opportunity, during which Kevaughn Connell, Jason Scotland and Khaleem Hyland scored for the homesters.
Jamaica squad: Donovan Ricketts, Shawn Sawyers, Jermaine Taylor, Rudolph Austin, Demar Phillips, Omar Daley, Ricardo Fuller, Luton Shelton, Oneil Thompson, Demar Stewart, O'Brian Woodbine, Tyrone Marshall, Adrian Reid, Ian Goodison, Ricardo Gardner, Jermaine Johnson, Deon Burton, Marlon King, Richard Langley, Simon Ford, Lee Williamson, Jamal Campbell-Ryce.
Chabee said
09:29 06/08 2008
The ended in a 1-1 draw which Jamaica scored in added on time in the second half from the penaly spot, which was converted by Luton Shelton
Jamaica's Ricardo Fuller (right) heads the ball as he is challenged by St Vincent and the Grenadines' Cornelius Huggins, during their international friendly victory (5-1) at the National Stadium on Wednesday night. The Reggae Boyz will tackle Trinidad and Tobago later in Trinidad. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Jamaica's Reggae Boyz and Trinidad and Tobago's Soca Warriors are set to write what is bound to be another enthralling chapter in one of the Caribbean's fiercest rivalries, when they lock horns in a 5 p.m. encounter at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, in Trinidad today.
When the teams last faced each other two months ago they played their way to a 2-2 draw at the National Stadium in Kingston, a fair result any neutral fan would suppose, but not for a Jamaica vs Trinidad friendly international.
Following the game, many local patrons had hissed and even booed as the Reggae Boyz, playing with a much more experienced team, easily outclassed a young Trinidad and Tobago team in the first half, but went on to concede two goals in the second half after a spate of changes by technical director René Simoes. The Trinidadian's present, on the other hand, celebrated the draw as if it was a victory for their young team.
Today's encounter should be an entirely different affair and with the start of the World Cup qualifiers just days away, both teams will look to field squads as close to full strength as possible.
Experienced player
While Simoes has left for the twin-island republic with 16 overseas-based players and is not likely to experiment as much ahead of the qualifier, Trinidad and Tobago's head coach, Francisco Maturana, has made sure to have a full contingent of experienced players at his disposal this time around.
However, both teams will suffer from key absences. Jamaica have to do without midfielder Andrew Williams, who returned to the United States for club duties with Major League soccer team Real Salt Lake. For Trinidad and Tobago, striker Kenwyne Jones, who plies his trade for English Premier League team Sunderland, has returned to England with a knee injury, while Southampton striker Stern John is also an unlikely inclusion after sustaining an injury in a 0-3 loss to England. Jason Scotland of Swansea City has been called in as a replacement for Jones.
While Simoes is disappointed to not have Williams - who recently came out of retirement - available for the game, he hopes other players will step up for the encounter.
New players
"It would have been nice to have Andy, but it is a chance to look at other players in the midfield, with the qualifiers coming up," Simoes said.
"We have new players in the team, we are still trying to build chemistry and that is what we will be hoping to see," he said.
The Jamaicans are coming off a 5-1 victory over St Vincent and the Grenadines and will tackle Grenada on Tuesday. Trinidad and Tobago beat Grenada 2-0 a little over a month ago and then beat Guyana 3-0 in a 'closed door' match on Wednesday. The Guyana team is currently having a camp in Trinidad and both teams utilised the opportunity, during which Kevaughn Connell, Jason Scotland and Khaleem Hyland scored for the homesters.
Jamaica squad: Donovan Ricketts, Shawn Sawyers, Jermaine Taylor, Rudolph Austin, Demar Phillips, Omar Daley, Ricardo Fuller, Luton Shelton, Oneil Thompson, Demar Stewart, O'Brian Woodbine, Tyrone Marshall, Adrian Reid, Ian Goodison, Ricardo Gardner, Jermaine Johnson, Deon Burton, Marlon King, Richard Langley, Simon Ford, Lee Williamson, Jamal Campbell-Ryce.