Austin Sees Red as Jamaica Slip Up Against Venezuela
Veteran midfielder sent off in Copa America opener
Rodolph Austin’s red card hit the Reggae Boyz badly as they were edged out 1-0 by Venezuela in their first Copa America Centenario group game on Sunday. With veteran Austin rested recently, his 23rd-minute sending off left Jamaica’s hopes on a downward spiral – and a string of missed chances cost them dear.
CONMEBOL outfit Venezuela were regarded as easy prey for Jamaica, who shocked the football world with a recent 2-1 success against hosts Chile, but the encounter at Soldier Field in Chicago proved to be too much of a battle for Winfried Schäfer’s side. Jamaica, world ranked no.46 and one of the six sides from CONCACAF, only qualified for the tournament after lifting the 2014 Caribbean Cup against all the odds. Back then Schäfer was under immense pressure as his forwards were failing to fire on all cylinders, and it was the same problem against the South American minnows despite the Boyz twice denied by the woodwork.
And with Venezuela having tasted defeat in their past six World Cup qualifiers, conceding an average of three goals per match, it appeared – on paper at least – to be a pushover for the Boyz.
Yet this was Jamaica’s fourth game ever in the Copa America, and bizarrely all three previous matches had resulted in 1-0 reversals as well.
With both sides adopting attacking tactics from the first whistle, it was Clayton Donaldson who was looking sharp for Jamaica, creating a trio of goalscoring attempts in the opening 10 minutes.
His appeal for a spot-kick was denied as the referee ruled him offside. Donaldson then saw one attempt deflected and went perilously close to scoring, only for alert goalkeeper Daniel Hernandez to pull off an impressive save.
The Boyz pressed forward to break the deadlock and Je-Vaughn Watson’s header on 14 minutes seemed destined to cross the line, but was denied by the crossbar.
With the Boyz bursting into life to produce virtually one-way traffic, Venezuela boss Rafael Dudamel was screaming to encourage his team to start performing.
His words of wisdom from the sidelines certainly did the trick as Jose Martinez put Venezuela into a shock lead on the quarter-of-an-hour mark following a neat one-touch build-up.
Alejandro Guerra outsmarted defenders Adrian Mariappa and Jerome Taylor to pick out Martinez, the Torino striker cleverly threading the ball though the legs of shotstopper Andre Blake.
And another Italian-based player turned the tie in favour of Venezuela when Austin was harshly given his marching orders for a tackle on Genoa’s Tomas Rincon.
Peruvian ref Victor Carrillo controversially ended Austin’s involvement after his tackle ended with his studs pinned into Rincon’s ankle, despite being first to the ball.
Venezuela immediately stepped up their game with the one player advantage, but busy Blake dealt with everything thrown at him – punching away Roberto Rosales’ shot and seconds later catching Wilker Angel’s effort
Schäfer could see heads dropping as the half-time whistle was approaching and was forced to bring influential defender Wes Morgan in place of injured Kemar Lawrence after 40 minutes.
Morgan, who sensationally marshalled Leicester City to their unexpected Premier League title, had been rested for almost a month after competing at last season’s Copa America, Gold Cup and then enjoyed a gruelling domestic season. However, he had been given time off by Schäfer to party in London and Thailand (home to Leicester City’s club sponsors).
After the turnaround Schäfer failed to return to the dugout, the head coach having been sent off during the interval following an exchange of strong words with the ref.
And the Boyz almost equalised when Michael Hector hit the right-hand post four minutes into the second-half, which had Schäfer shaking his head in the stands.
After this scare Venezuela were eager to double their lead, only for livewire Martinez denied by Blake.
At the other end Jobi McAnuff wasted a chance on 68 minutes and on the counterattack Blake had to pull off another of his trademark diving punches to halt Angel’s header and could only watch seconds later when Solomon Rondón screwed his shot off target.
Morgan, the Leicester City skipper, kept the defensive line in tow and was as commanding as ever with his constant involvement in set-pieces.
With time running out for Jamaica, veteran attacker Lee Williamson was given 13 minutes with centre back Hector replaced.
But the Boyz squandered late chances. Barnes’ shot blocked, Mariappa’s effort caught by keeper Dani Hernandez and Watson’s half volley flying over the gaping goalmouth.
The final whistle sent the Venezuela players into a frenzy at picking up a rare win, and they have form in the competition having reached the 2011 Copa America semi-finals.
It is back to the drawing board for Jamaica, who have failed to score in all four Copa America matches, suffering a trio of 1-0 defeats at last year’s tournament.
And with mighty Mexico next followed by Uruguay, for the Boyz to escape their group and reach the knockout stages appears to a tough – and almost impossible – task.
Mexico top the group following a 3-1 tussle over Uruguay, but their victory was marred by a string of controversial moments and both sides reduced to 10 players.
To kick off with the Chile national anthem was belted out over the tannoy of the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona instead of Uruguay’s, and after four minutes an own goal from Alvaro Pereira gave Mexico the lead.
Uruguay’s Matias Vecino and Mexico’s Andres Guardado were both sent off in the second half.
But Guardado gave away the free-kick that Diego Godin slotted home for a 74th-minute equaliser, which brought an outbreak of fans fighting in the stands and bottles thrown on the pitch.
Mexico skipper Rafael Marquez restored their lead and an injury time header from Hector Herrera sealed the points to top the group, and they tackle the Boyz on Thursday.
Should they bag a goal to break their Copa America duck then there is no stopping the Boyz, and with Austin now suspended it is a fantastic opportunity for Morgan to don the skipper’s armband and become Jamaica’s captain fantastic.
Jamaica: Blake; Taylor, Hector (Williamson 77), Mariappa, Lawrence (Morgan 40); Watson (Binns 88), Austin, McAnuff, McCleary; Barnes, Donaldson. Subs: Kerr, Thompson, Harriott, Solomon, Grant, Marsh, Ottey, Orgill.
Remaining Copa America matches for Jamaica: 9 June – Mexico (Rose Bowl, Pasadena) and 13 June – Uruguay (Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara).
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