Uruguay Halts Jamaica’s Five-Match Unbeaten Run
Reggae Boyz lack cutting edge on Copa America debut
A 52nd-minute instinctive strike by Cristian Rodriguez was enough for Uruguay to kick-off their defence of the Copa America at the expense of resilient Jamaica in Chile on Saturday.
Nicolas Benitez’s free-kick picked out Jose Gimenez, whose cushioned header fell neatly into the path of Rodriguez to lash home the loose ball that ultimately ended Jamaica’s five-match winning streak.
The Reggae Boyz, making their Copa America debut and widely written off as invitees simply making up the numbers in the prestigious South American tournament, were unfortunate not to scrape a draw from their endeavours.
But the Boyz lacked real quality upfront and failed to muster a single shot on target in a contest devoid of goalmouth action and scoring opportunities.
Uruguay, missing the suspended livewire Luis Suarez at Estadio Regional Calvo in Antofagasta, saw strikers Edinson Cavani and Diego Rolan bombarded with passes only for the Boyz to brilliantly avert the danger.
Jamaica repeatedly left Uruguay’s front two frustrated at the sheer physicality of their defence during the opening 45 minutes, but after the turnaround the strikers begin to force play wider rather directly down the middle and were more effective.
With the South American giants resorting to long passes on the counter-attack, a tactic usually employed by the Caribbean outfit, the Boyz had to be on their guard and did exceptionally well to deal with any second-half threats.
Overall ‘shotstopper’ DuWayne Kerr had very little to do between the sticks, his role reduced to scooping up ineffective crosses and set-pieces as his defence looked solid. His first save came on 38 minutes, being sharp enough to turn Rodriguez’s effort from the edge of the area around his post.
But Kerr could not prevent Rodriguez from making the breakthrough seven minutes after the interval. Benitez’s set-piece should have been cleared by Michael Hector, but he was beaten in the air by Gimenez and Rodriguez pounced.
With the Boyz chasing the game it was the pace and trickery of Jobi McAnuff who continuously caused Uruguay endless problems.
And with Adrian Mariappa and Garath McCleary – former club team-mates at English side Reading – linking up well to break forward as well as working hard together in the heart of defence, there was some genuine hope for an equaliser.
Although Jamaica’s coach Wilfried Schäfer admitted before the tie that his Boyz could only win through crosses, his side only fired in 19 crosses – predominantly from the right and too often inside a packed penalty area – with poor accuracy.
Giles Barnes and Darren Mattocks were regularly unleashed by neat passes from midfield, only for the outstanding Benitez to swiftly snuff out any sign of danger.
And Mattocks scuffed his one real scoring chance, mis-hitting his effort when clear on goal just before half-time. Simon Dawkins, who impressed in the first half with wily runs down the left wing, faded after Rodriguez netted and was rightly substituted.
Lance Laing, Dawkins’ replacement, proved an inspiration and took his opportunity well to pepper the Uruguay box with dangerous-looking crosses for fellow sub Deshorn Brown and the industrious Barnes.
And Laing came perilously close to creating an equaliser on 75 minutes, only for Barnes to head the pin-poing cross narrowly wide of the target.
After all the pressure coming from the Boyz, the two-time World Cup winners should have ended Jamaica’s hopes only for Christian Stuani’s late effort to whistle over gaping goal following a rare slip-up in defence.
It is back to the drawing board for the Boyz who tackle Paraguay in their next match, playing in the same stadium on Tuesday before the tricker tie against Argentina at Vina del Mar on Saturday.
JAMAICA: Kerr – Lawrence, Morgan, Hector, Mariappa – Dawkins (Laing, 54), McAnuff, Austin, McCleary, Mattocks (Brown, 75), Barnes. Subs: Miller, Thompson, Gordon, Gray, Taylor, Grant, Watson, Ottey, Parkes, Williams