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Week 8 - Team Dominica Rides On, Team Jamaica Cruise

Team Dominica continues to ride the wave defeating Team Antigua and Barbuda to consolidate their playoff push, while Team Jamaica survived some anxious moments before cruising against Team Panama.

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Team Dominica 1 vs Team Antigua and Barbuda 0

With some new management people in place Team Dominica has reborn and have played their best soccer in years.

For the first time this season Team Antigua and Barbuda came to the park with a full complement of players and while their goalkeeper was called on several times to make point blank saves, one wonders if they brought this enthusiasm to the park from game one they may very well have been in playoff contention this season. Unfortunately they have played out all their preliminary round games without gaining a point.

In the 18th minute Team Dominica could have gone ahead but for poor finishing by Curtis Jno Baptiste from a long throw deep in the Benna Boys’ defensive third. Baptiste seemed surprised when the ball fell at his feet and slipped in his effort to push the ball home. Minutes later Shirmar Henry’s volley kick just inside the eighteen went high and wide.

The Dominicans finally capitalized when Andel Bardouille picked up a cross from Henry, advanced a couple steps toward goal then fired the ball home.

The Benna Boys goalkeeper Kurt Odanahue had a teriffic game, particularly in the second half when he was called on to save a barrage of close in shots.

Team Dominica is certainly riding a wave this New York Caribbean Cup season for although they have two games remaining in the preliminary round they have already qualified for the playoffs which is absolutely remarkable for them.

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Team Jamaica 5  Team Panama 1

This was an important game for Team Panama, if you will, a ‘must win’ game and certainly they gave Team Jamaica all they could handle with their long ball tactics in the first half.

It didn’t take long for Team Jamaica to score, however, as a Jermaine Hue free kick rebounded off a defender and the ball fell at the feet of Alan Maragh who rippled the net without hesitation.

The long ball tactics of Los Canaleros paid dividends three minutes later when Devon Haughton left his line to clean up a defensive error but an alert Oscar Eccleston lobbed the ball over his head and into the goal.

There was no further scoring as the teams went to the half tied at 1-apiece.

Team Jamaica showed signs of breaking the game open but stalled their progress with too much fancy footwork or as some call it ‘gallery football’. Particularly guilty was Romario Campbell whom I thought should have gotten rid of the ball earlier rather than trying to disarm two or three defenders. He is too good a footballer to be trying to show how good he is. Romario just need to play ball, look for the first pass ‘ala’ Jermaine Hue.

Anyway the NY Reggae Boyz got their second goal when Javid Morris caught Los Canaleros defense napping on a shot through the middle.

Shortly after the goal Romario Campbell was injured in a tackle and was replaced and Team Jamaica looked a different bunch. They completely took over the game and in the space of four minutes marksman Denzil Watson got a brace to give the Boyz a three goal cushion. However, the second of his two goals was a beauty to behold. Watson scoring after some deft passing between Daemion Benjamin, Jermaine Hue and Andre McFarlane that left the Panamanian defense dumbfounded.

Frustration more than anything else led to goal number five when Andre Mcfarlane was brought down inside the eighteen and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped O’Neil Thompson who buried the penalty shot to close the scoring.

Although Team Panama was just over matched with coach Arthur “Jetty” Mikes back at the helm for Team Jamaica, they looked a much sharper team.

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Week 9 Games, Sunday, July 19, 2015

3:30 PM - Guyana vs Panama
5:30 PM - St. Vincent & The Grenadines vs Trinidad & Tobago

All games played at Jefferson High School Sports Complex, 125-08 Flatlands Ave
(at Shepherd Ave) in Brooklyn.