Jamaicans poised for fourth New York title

BROOKLYN, New York (CMC):

Defending Caribbean Cup champions, Jamaica, are poised to create history by becoming the first team to win four successive titles when they face St Kitts and Nevis in the 12-team championship Sunday.

The New York Reggae Boyz secured their berth in the final by beating five-time Cup champions St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) 1-0 before a capacity crowd in the first semi-final match Sunday at the Jefferson High School Stadium.

St Kitts and Nevis guaranteed their place with a 4-0 stunning of Haiti in the subsequent semi-final game, creating history in the process. It was the first time that St Kitts and Nevis reached the final in the 16-year-old Cup.

After Jamaica and St Vincent and the Grenadines were locked 0-0 by the half-time interval, the Jamaicans bypassed their opponents just four minutes into the second half through a defensive blunder.

In attempting to head the ball back to goalkeeper Markie Williams, SVG captain Greg John woefully miscalculated, to the chagrin of hundreds of Vincentian fans as the ball hit the back of the net.

Kept at bay

SVG then made valiant efforts to find the equaliser, but the New York Reggae Boyz kept them at bay up to the final whistle, denying them any prospect of clinching the Cup for a record sixth time.

St Vincent and the Grenadines had won the Cup in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 2000.

"We did not create enough chances compared to the last game (in which they beat Guyana 3-1 on August 10)," Stanley 'Luxie' Morris, SVG's head coach, told CMC Sports in a post-game interview.

Arthur 'Jetty' Mikes, the Jamaican coach, said while his team did not play to the best of its ability, it was glad to be in winner's row.

"We had some injuries, but we had enough players on the bench who can go in and get the job done," he said.

"We're going to win the Cup for the fourth time," he added confidently.