Late Penalty Spares Jamaica Gold Cup Humiliation
St. Vincent & the Grenadines come close to first win over Reggae Boyz since 2006
Leon Bailey left it late to save Jamaica’s blushes, scoring a 98th-minute spot-kick to level the CONCACAF Gold Cup first leg preliminary qualifier against St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) last night.
The Aston Villa attacker went from zero to hero, ruled offside when Dexter Lembikisa found the back of the net on the hour-mark but made amends with a superb spot-kick for a 1-1 stalemate.
With head coach Steve McClaren expecting his Reggae Boyz to brush aside SVG inside the jam-packed Arnos Vale Stadium, the former England manager shuffled his pack although he opted to play many star names.
Yet the Vincy Heat came perilously close to registering their first triumph over Jamaica since the friendly 1-0 success in 2006, and looked far superior than their last encounter when the Boyz trounced SVG 5-1.
SVG, FIFA-ranked over 100 places behind world no.62 Jamaica, took advantage of their opponents failing to gel and deservedly broke the deadlock with a well-taken strike from Oalex Anderson on 65 minutes.
Head coach Ezra Hendrickson, a former MLS manager with Chicago Fire FC, was on the verge of a famous victory over the Boyz until his side gave away a needless penalty.
Arnett Gardens forward Warner Brown, a late substitute, was taking the ball out of the box when he was clumsily tackled from behind by Tristan Marshall. Whizzy winger Bailey made no mistake from the resultant spot-kick to earn the Boyz a share of the spoils.
Bailey set up Jamaica’s first chance on the quarter-of-an-hour mark, only for keeper Lemus Christopher to save Shamar Nicholson’s effort from 10 yards.
After veteran defender Sue-Lae McCalla thumped Jamaica’s best first-half chance wide of the gaping goalmouth on 17 minutes, the hosts started to pile on the pressure.
Striker Cornelius Stewart brilliantly beat the offside trap on the half-hour mark, but was unable to beat shotstopper Andre Blake.
The Boyz were almost embarrassed on the verge of half-time when 35-year-old Stewart weaved his way past Jamaica captain Blake, only for his shot to whistle inches wide of the empty goalmouth.
This scare jolted McClaren’s troops immediately after the turnaround. Demarai Gray’s effort was parried by Christopher and fell neatly for Isaac Hayden, only for the keeper to deal with the danger.
On the hour Lembikisa thundered home from the edge of the box, but his effort was chalked off because Bailey was in an offside position.
SVG skipper Anderson sent the home fans into delirium with a spectacular strike for his 14th international goal. He latched onto a loose ball, instinctively raced past Richard King and then brilliantly beat Blake.
With the visitors seemingly unable to find a way past the resolute defence, a moment of madness from Marshall allowed Jamaica back into the tie.
Bailey comfortably converted the resultant penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way by firing low into the bottom right corner.
The Boyz have this precious away goal ahead of Tuesday’s second leg inside Kingston’s National Stadium, but will need to up the ante as Hendrickson has rarely lost since he was installed as SVG head coach last year.
In the eighth minute of stoppage time, Brown was brought down in the area, as he earned a lifeline for the Jamaicans. Up stepped Bailey, coolly dispatching the spot kick to salvage a draw and hand Jamaica a vital away goal ahead of Tuesday’s return leg at the National Stadium.
Remember to share this article on Facebook and other Social Media Platforms. To submit your own articles or to advertise with us please send us an EMAIL at: [email protected]