MONTEGO BAY – Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz lifted their sixth CFU Caribbean Cup title after holding their nerve in a penalty shoot-out to beat Trinidad and Tobago in the final at the Montego Bay Sports Complex here Tuesday night.
After scores were locked 0-0 following regular and extra time, Jamaica confidently out-shot the Soca Warriors 4-3 to spark jubilant celebrations across the west coast Jamaica venue.
The victory gave Jamaica their second Caribbean title in the last five years, following on from their triumph over Guadeloupe – also on penalties – in the 2010 final staged in Martinique.
Jermaine Taylor put the Reggae Boyz ahead on penalties but Cardiff City and T&T star striker Kenwyne Jones produced a weak shot which was easily saved by goalkeeper Andre Blake.
Jobi McAnuff blasted in a terrific shot to put Jamaica up 2-0 only for Attaullah Guerra to halve the advantage with a well-placed kick.
Demar Phillips kept Jamaica in front by easily beating Jan-Michael Williams and Kevin Molino was ice cool as he calmly fired inside the far post.
The shoot-out turned on its head, however, when Jamaica’s Michael Seaton sent a weak shot to Williams’ right which was easily stopped, and Joevin Jones then stepped up for Trinidad and Tobago to level the scores at 3-3.
MVP Rudolph Austin, Jamaica’s captain, then put the hosts ahead. Hyland needed to score to keep T&T in the contest, but he fired a thunderbolt well over the crossbar.
The result was perhaps a fitting one as Jamaica were the better side over the regular and extra time, and missed a couple of gilt-edged chances to put the game away.
In the preceding third-place play-off, 2007 champions Haiti beat defending champions Cuba 2-1. (CMC)
