LONDON, England - Though there were no goals for fans who braved England's ruthless chills to watch Jamaica's Reggae Boyz against Nigeria's Super Eagles in a friendly international at the New Den Stadium last night, the game provided goalmouth fireworks and other dramatic moments in a 0-0 tie.
LONDON, England - Nigeria's Nwankwo Kanu (left) and Jamaica's Rodolph Austin battle for a high ball during their international friendly match at the New Den yesterday. The game ended 0-0. (Photo: AP)
Another highlight, which the event could well do without, involved the sendings off of two players by referee Mike Dean - Jermaine Johnson of Jamaica and Taiye Taiwo of Nigeria after a bust-up in the 43rd minute.
Also, it was an evening when Portmore United goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers was at his blazing best, pulling off a number of outstanding saves to keep his team in the game.
Sweeper Tyrone Marshall, who recently switched clubs to Seattle Sounders from Toronto FC in the US Major League, was brilliant at the back. So, too, was Damion 'Stew Peas' Stewart, who appears to be simmering into an accomplished centre back.
Also scoring high on the wintery London evening was the overall spirit and determination in which the game was played, qualities that the team's coach, John Barnes, has demanded from the day he took the reins.
"The team played the way I expected them to play, and we went up against a Nigeria team that played with a lot of composure, skill and cohesion and in the first half they gave us the run-around a bit, but in the second half I thought we controlled and moved the ball better and I'm disappointed that we didn't win the match because of the chances we had," said Barnes, the former Liverpool and England winger.
LONDON, England - Reggae Boy Jermaine Johnson (centre) is restrained by teammate Tyrone Mears during an incident for which he was ejected during their international friendly match against Nigeria at the New Den yesterday. The teams drew 0-0. (Photo: AP)
But it was a nightmarish evening for speedy striker Luton Shelton of Noway's Valarenga, who had a number of chances to score, especially two clear-cut ones a minute apart in the second half.
But all in all, it was a game that unveiled a spirit in the Jamaican play that can only augur well for the future Jamaica, following up on their positive start, threatened the Nigerian goal in the ninth minute when Tyrone Mears - on his debut for Jamaica - sent a sweet cross from the right which found Marlon King, who delicately flicked to Demar Phillips, who in turn set up an onrushing Shelton, who got only the faintest of touches on the ball and failed to trouble goalkeeper Ejide Austine.
Again, the rookie Mears, who plies his trade with Olympique Marseille of France and looked the part down the right flank, steered another low ball into the Nigeria goal area in the 23rd minute of play. This time the speedy Shelton skipped, setting up an overlapping Phillips, whose firm strike was blocked by an unflinching defender.
LONDON, England - Though there were no goals for fans who braved England's ruthless chills to watch Jamaica's Reggae Boyz against Nigeria's Super Eagles in a friendly international at the New Den Stadium last night, the game provided goalmouth fireworks and other dramatic moments in a 0-0 tie.
Another highlight, which the event could well do without, involved the sendings off of two players by referee Mike Dean - Jermaine Johnson of Jamaica and Taiye Taiwo of Nigeria after a bust-up in the 43rd minute.
Also, it was an evening when Portmore United goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers was at his blazing best, pulling off a number of outstanding saves to keep his team in the game.
Sweeper Tyrone Marshall, who recently switched clubs to Seattle Sounders from Toronto FC in the US Major League, was brilliant at the back. So, too, was Damion 'Stew Peas' Stewart, who appears to be simmering into an accomplished centre back.
Also scoring high on the wintery London evening was the overall spirit and determination in which the game was played, qualities that the team's coach, John Barnes, has demanded from the day he took the reins.
"The team played the way I expected them to play, and we went up against a Nigeria team that played with a lot of composure, skill and cohesion and in the first half they gave us the run-around a bit, but in the second half I thought we controlled and moved the ball better and I'm disappointed that we didn't win the match because of the chances we had," said Barnes, the former Liverpool and England winger.
But it was a nightmarish evening for speedy striker Luton Shelton of Noway's Valarenga, who had a number of chances to score, especially two clear-cut ones a minute apart in the second half.
But all in all, it was a game that unveiled a spirit in the Jamaican play that can only augur well for the future
Jamaica, following up on their positive start, threatened the Nigerian goal in the ninth minute when Tyrone Mears - on his debut for Jamaica - sent a sweet cross from the right which found Marlon King, who delicately flicked to Demar Phillips, who in turn set up an onrushing Shelton, who got only the faintest of touches on the ball and failed to trouble goalkeeper Ejide Austine.
Again, the rookie Mears, who plies his trade with Olympique Marseille of France and looked the part down the right flank, steered another low ball into the Nigeria goal area in the 23rd minute of play. This time the speedy Shelton skipped, setting up an overlapping Phillips, whose firm strike was blocked by an unflinching defender.
But Nigeria, not to be outdone, reminded