Team Jamaica and Team Haiti Reach NY Caribbean Cup Final
This afternoon Team Jamaica easily defeated Team St. Kitts and Nevis 4-0 while Team Haiti tripped up former champions Team St. Lucia 2-0 to get to the Labor Day weekend New York Caribbean Cup Soccer Tournament finals. Over the last three years Team Jamaica and Team Haiti have only met in the preliminary round of the Cup, they have not seen playoff action against each other. In 2012 Team Jamaica won 1-0, 2013 Team Haiti returned the favor and in 2014 it was Team Haiti again by a score of 3-2.
Team Jamaica (4) vs Team St. Kitts & Nevis (0)
It took a while for Team Jamaica to get untracked this afternoon against Team St. Kitts & Nevis and while they eventually won easily we have still not seen the slick smooth passing Jamaica of years past.
Just when the game seem headed for half time deadlocked at zero, Javid Morris picked up a ball on the right side, raced by his defender and crossed to a waiting Irvino English lurking just outside the eighteen. Goalkeeper Jamal Francis had no chance as English drove the ball home firmly to give Team Jamaica the lead.
Fans were hardly back in their seats for the second half when Denzil Watson doubled the advantage for the NY Reggae Boyz on a goal disputed by the Sugar Boys who thought he was caught in their offside trap. The officials ruled differently.
Three minutes later in the 52nd minute, Daemion Benjamin broke the hearts of Kittishian fans when he made no mistake on a cross from Irvino English.
Goal number 4 for Team Jamaica was basically a giveaway due to careless defensive work by the Sugar Boyz. Not sure what the defender was trying to do but he only succeeded in allowing Javid Morris to disposes him of the ball inside the six yard box and all Morris had to do was tap the ball home.
Team Jamaica was defensively solid throughout, except for a close-in shot that beat Devon Haughton late in the game and rebounded off the post.
Team Haiti (2) vs Team St. Lucia (0)
For those who have watched the New York Caribbean Cup through the years they have tagged Team St. Lucia as a ‘lucky’ team. This afternoon however, their luck ran out and perhaps by their own undoing.
Although Team Haiti may have had more of the possession the first half ended with clean sheets on either side of the board.
The second half was pretty much a carbon of the first with Marvens Dominique beating his defender repeatedly but without damage.
In hind sight Bradley Tisson must be kicking himself for St. Lucia’s demise. Shortly after he was red carded in the eighty first minute for picking up a second yellow card Abdias Daout roaming free just inside the eighteen gave Les Grenadiers a one goal lead. Until the red card the game seem headed for penalty shootout.
Team St. Lucia playing a man down, fought desperately to bring things back on even terms but to no avail, the goal had suddenly infused new life into Team Haiti who were playing now with consummate ease. With seconds to go in the game Marvens Dominique sealed the issue from a goal front scramble. Haiti 2 St. Lucia 0.
This will be Team Haiti’s first New York Caribbean Cup Championship final and no better opponent to match up against than Team Jamaica. It promises to be a great 2015 final.
Sunday, September 6th, NY Caribbean Cup Championship Finals
2:30pm – Team St. Kitts & Nevis VS Team St. Lucia
4:45pm – Team Jamaica VS Team Haiti
All Matches Are Played at:
Thomas Jefferson High School Field
12508 Flatlands Ave (& Shepherd
Ave)
Brooklyn NY 11208
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