A stoppage-time strike from Kelvin Brown sealed a dramatic 1-0 victory for Jamaica’s Under-15 Reggae Boyz over Curaçao on Wednesday, ensuring they completed the Concacaf U15 Championships League B Group D stage with a flawless record.
The win at Stadion CD Guillermo Trinidad gave the young Jamaicans maximum nine points, six clear of Belize, Curaçao, and Aruba, and booked them a semi-final showdown against long-time regional rivals Trinidad and Tobago on Friday.
A cautious start and early missed chances
The match opened in cautious fashion, with both sides probing but reluctant to overcommit. Curaçao carved out the game’s first real opportunity when Quyvonn Sluis lofted a teasing ball into the box. Jyano Rojer rose high above the Jamaican defence but sent his header off target.
Jamaica responded swiftly. Brown surged down the right flank and fired from a tight angle, ignoring the unmarked Carlando Morris at the far post. Moments later, Morris found himself in space inside the box but blazed his shot over from 12 yards.
Brown came close again in the 28th minute, curling a right-footed effort that forced Curaçao goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Ricardo into a sharp parry. Curaçao nearly stole the lead before the break, but Giordyson Koeiman’s low drive lacked the venom to trouble Jamaican custodian Jaheime Gray.
Second-half pressure and persistent probing
The second half saw a more open contest, with both sides trading promising attacks but failing to capitalise. As the minutes ticked away, Jamaica began to seize control.
Chances fell to Tevin Savage, Morris, Davion Clarke, and Kenrick Brown, while Kelvin Brown twice threatened — firing one effort over from the edge of the box and glancing a header just above the bar.
Brown delivers in the dying moments
With the match seemingly destined for a draw, Jamaica struck in stoppage time. Brown ignited a counter-attack, slipping Samuel Taylor through on goal. Taylor’s strike rattled the crossbar, but the rebound fell kindly to Brown, who coolly slotted home the decisive goal.
The late finish preserved Jamaica’s perfect group-stage record and injected fresh momentum ahead of Friday’s semi-final clash.
