In a tightly contested match at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence, Jamaica’s Under-17 Reggae Boyz endured a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat against Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) on Friday, with the winning goal coming in added time from Akel Vesprey.
Jamaica started brightly, with Orel Miller missing a clear header inside the box in the opening minute. The young Reggae Boyz continued to dominate possession early on, but Trinidad and Tobago’s goalkeeper Mikhail Clement comfortably handled Giovanni Taylor’s powerful shot in the 22nd minute.
In the second half, Trinidad and Tobago employed a defensive tactic, aiming to catch the Reggae Boyz on the counterattack. Despite Jamaica’s relentless pressure and several goal-scoring opportunities, they failed to convert. Dashawn Jacques found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Clement but couldn’t find the target.
First and only chance on goal
With their first and only chance on goal, Trinidad and Tobago capitalized in added time. Akel Vesprey seized upon a loose ball in the box and fired home to secure victory for the visitors.
Trinidad and Tobago’s head coach, Shawn Cooper, praised his team’s gritty performance, emphasizing their strategy of soaking up pressure and hitting on the counterattack.
Jamaica’s head coach, Altimont Butler, expressed disappointment with the result, believing his team deserved to win based on their dominance and numerous chances created.
“It’s a work-in-progress,” Butler remarked, highlighting the learning process and expressing satisfaction with the performance of some of his players in an international setting.
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