MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz lifted their sixth CFU Caribbean Cup title when they held their nerve in a penalty shoot out to beat Trinidad & Tobago in the final at the Montego Bay Sports Complex here Tuesday night.
After scores were locked nil-all following regular and extra time, Jamaica confidently out-shot the Soca Warriors 4-3 to spark jubilant celebrations across the west coast Jamaica venue.
The victory ended a six-game winless streak for the Jamaicans and also handed them their second Caribbean title in the last five years, following on from their triumph over Guadeloupe – also on penalties – in the 2010 Final staged in Martinique.
Jermaine Taylor put the Reggae Boyz ahead on penalties but Cardiff City star Kenwyne Jones produced a weak shot which was easily saved by goalkeeper Andre Blake.
Jobi McAnuff blasted in a terrific shot to put Jamaica up 2-0 only for Attaullah Guerra to halve the advantage for T&T with a well-placed kick.
Demar Phillips kept Jamaica in front by easily beating Jan-Michael Williams and Kevin Molino was ice cool as he calmly fired inside the far post.
The shootout turned on its head, however, when Jamaica’s Michael Seaton sent a weak shot to Williams’s right which was easily stopped, and Joevin Jones then stepped up to level the scores at 3-3.
MVP Rudolph Austin, Jamaica’s captain, then put the hosts ahead and needing to score to keep T&T in the contest, Hyland fired a thunderbolt well over the crossbar.
The result was perhaps a fitting one as Jamaica were the better side over the regular and extra time, and missed a couple of gilt-edged chances to put the game away.
Jobi McAnuff went close as early as the 19th minute when his shot from a rebound shaved the right post after Dane Richards had forced a save out of goalkeeper Williams.
Austin also sent a 56th minute long range volley wide as Jamaica, who held possession and passed the ball better, kept pressing for the opening goal.
T&T also had their chances to get on the scoresheet with just minutes left in full time, Daneil Cyrus heading over from a corner and Guerra carving his shot just wide of the right upright.
In extra time, McAnuff muffed a fabulous opportunity to score when he was teed up from inside the box but hurried his shot and the left-footed effort flew over the crossbars.
In the last 15 minutes, both teams ran themselves ragged without reward, as extra time finished in a flurry of activity.
In the preceding third place playoff, 2007 champions Haiti beat defending champions Cuba 2-1, with all three goals coming in the second half.
The French side were ahead when Mechak Jerome knocked in a loose ball in the 56th minute, and they doubled their lead through second-half substitute Wilde-Donald Guerrier in the 85th minute.
A minute from the end Ariel Martinez pulled one back for Cuba with an effort that bounced off the underside of the crossbar and over the line.
