Jamaican striker Luton Shelton (left) tries to control the ball ahead of a Bahamas defender during their World Cup first-leg Qualifier at the National Stadium on Sunday. Jamaica won 7-0. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz will look to formalise their passage into the next phase of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Series when they face the Bahamas today in the second-leg encounter at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium at 4:00 pm.

Entering today's match against the 167th-ranked Caribbean team with a huge 7-0 advantage, Jamaica, ranked 98th in the world, are poised to join the CONCACAF semi-final phase in a group alongside the already qualified Honduras, as well as Mexico, who hold a 2-0 advantage over Belize, and Canada, who lead 3-0 against St Vincent & the Grenadines after first-leg games.

In the semi-final phase, which runs from August through November, there will be three groups of four teams, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the final phase, where the first three finishers on points qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals in South Africa.

The fourth-placed team enters a home and away play-off with the fifth-placed team from South America.

In the first leg on Sunday, captain Ricardo Gardner, Demar Phillips, Marlon King, Andy Williams, Omar Daley and a brace from Luton Shelton carried the Boyz to their huge victory. They led 3-0 at the break in front of more than 80 per cent of the National Stadium's capacity.

Veteran Reggae Boy midfielder Andy Williams (left) about to get by an opponent during the World Cup first-leg Qualifier against the Bahamas at the National Stadium last Sunday. Jamaica won 7-0. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Despite the large margin of victory, technical director Rene Simoes said there were some bad decisions taken by the players at critical stages of the game.

"I think the intensity of the team was good," Simoes said, "but I think we made some decisions that were not appropriate".
He added: "We have to play more games. Only games will make you find the best solutions to the problems you face."

On Sunday the Bahamas offered very little in terms of threat to the Jamaicans, with goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts a mere spectator for most of the 90-plus minutes. He was not forced to make a save until well into the second half and spent most of his time playing like a kicking back.

Ricketts might have more work to do today - shying away from the sunlight on the field which is less than ideally marked in an east-to-west direction.

The defensive posture of the Bahamians did not help either. They employed a 4-5-1 formation, with the diminutive Lesley St Fleur, the lone striker, almost totally lost among the Jamaica defence line.

Bahamas' technical director, Brazilian Neider Dos Santos, conceded his side was overwhelmed by the locals.
"We were basically an Under-21 team playing against professionals, so we just tried to hold out for as long as we could to put a bit of pressure on them," he said.

"Unfortunately, we conceded the first goal very early so that made it a lot more difficult for us. The players tried their best, but sometimes the difference of experience makes a huge impact in the game. Now we need to forget that match and see how to improve the performance for the next game."

But realistically, the Bahamians would have done very well if they were to escape with a better result today. Such is the enormous gap between the two sides.

Despite his brace on Sunday, on another day Shelton could easily have been celebrating a hat-trick or four-timer, but he was wasteful in front of goal.

And with very little to do defensively, ace central defender Ian 'Pepe' Goodison could have scored a brace, having struck the post in the second minute, and gone close with a header late on.

Captain Gardner was satisfied with Sunday's effort, but he warned his players to remain focussed for today's closing event.

"From the last game (against Grenada) there was a bit of pressure on us and I think we learned from that game," said Gardner, who scored the opening goal on Sunday.
"We took it very professionally in this game and did the job. But the job isn't over yet, there's a next leg and we have to start from 0-0," he added.

Simoes originally said he would employ the same starting 11 as on Sunday, but late yesterday one change was effected.
It is unsure, what changes, if any, Dos Santos will apply to his team, which is now desperate
and only 90 minutes away
from elimination.

Ricketts will again tend goal, with Goodison and Jermaine Taylor in central defence, flanked by Gardner and Tyrone Marshall. The midfield will be manned by Evan Taylor, Rudolph Austin, Demar Phillips - who has been a livewire for the team - and Andy Williams, while Deon Burton replaces Marlon King in partnership with Shelton up front.