JAMAICA'S REGGAE Boyz failed to advance to the semi-final of the Copa Caribe tournament despite their 2-1 win over Barbados at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Trinidad yesterday.
Their hopes of advancing were dashed when Martinique registered a surprise 2-1 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in the other deciding game
To qualify for the semis, the Jamaicans had needed to defeat the Bajans while hoping that Martinique lost to Cup holders Trinidad and Tobago.
In the end, Martinique advanced at Jamaica's expense by virtue of a better goal average.
Jamaica started with a 1-0 victory over Martinique in their opening game, then succumb 2-1 to the high-riding "Trinis" who convincingly led their group, but their hopes dimmed after Martinique stopped winless Barbados 3-1 to lead them in the standings on goal difference
Barbados had nothing to lose but the Jamaicans were hungry for a place in the semis and made their intentions clear from early through Fabian Taylor who replaced Andy Williams. The latter was out with two yellow cards.
Playing a quality first half under what was described as "superb conditions", the Reggae Boyz went ahead on a Wolde Harris penalty in the 13th minute.
Harris, who scored his second goal of the tournament and fifth for Jamaica in his 20 games at the senior level, took the strike after fellow frontman Barry Hayles was brought down by Gregory Goodridge in the area.
Keeper' Donovan Ricketts was made to work soon after when Goodridge sent a curling shot to the left of Ricketts but the keeper pulled off a fine save.
The Bajan captain proved to be a constant threat throughout the match, though none of his seven attempts hit the target.
Meanwhile, Taylor's work in the middle did not go unrewarded as he sent Jamaica two up in the 26th minute when he headed a chip from Hayles past the Bajan keeper.
Jamaica celebrated but Barbados capitalised on a lapse shortly after and got on the scorecard when marksman Llewelyn Riley hit a shot into the net.
Second-half action began in fading light and with the score still 2-1, the Jamaicans went in with added pace to their play.
They were made to defend stoutly as Goodridge and Riley piled on the pressure with some close-range shots.
The Reggae Boyz made a double change, bringing on Christopher Nicholas for Hayles and Jermaine Johnson for Omar Daley and that helped turn the pressure on to their opponents and hold on for the win.
