- Dicember, 11 2008 -

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Thursday, December 11; National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica: Jamaica joins Grenada in the Finals of the Digicel Caribbean Championships courtesy of their 2-0 gouging of Guadeloupe. A cautious Jamaica were allowed possession far too easily by a Guadeloupe team that approached the match with a defensive mindset, wary of the speed of Luton Shelton and the vision of Andy Williams and Rudolph Austin, the Gwada Boys were voluntarily pushed back from the first whistle.

Dane Richards thought he had made the difference in minute seven, when he finished neatly inside of the box only to have the checkered flag wave it off. But while the linesman was playing checkers, the Jamaicans were playing chess and another superb corner from Demar Phillips was met by a commanding header by O’Neil Thompson to register his first goal for the senior team and set Jamaica on the path to DCC destiny after only 11 minutes.

Jamaica’s goal didn’t seem to stir the Guadeloupian’s as they continued to persist with their negative approach hoping to catch the Boyz on the break. Rudolph Austin seemed keen to take advantage of the situation and tested the goalkeeper with a half volley from 25 yards. Austin would go even closer with a 40 yard smasher whose only drawback was that it was aimed directly at the goalkeeper.

Despite a spattering of boos from the crowd, Jamaica was efficient if not entertaining in the first half, albeit with an unusual number of square balls due to Guadeloupe’s odd posture.

Guadeloupe was unable to offer a shot in the first half on target or otherwise, and for the most part it didn’t look like that would change in the second half either. More negative football from both teams saw a few members of the crowd leave at halftime, however if they had stayed until minute 57 they would have witnessed one of the greatest individual goals of the DCC season. Luton Shelton, who had looked sharp when given the opportunity, confirmed Guadeloupe’s greatest fears when, just inside his opponents half, he set off at a sprint with the ball at his feet, bolting past Gwada defenders on route to goal. The finish was superb - a dink at full extension to lift the ball over the legs of the sliding Franck Grandel in goal and give Jamaica the unassailable 2 goal lead.

Shelton would go close again in the dying moments of the match when a 50 yard pass from Andy Williams was met by pillow-soft control from the speedy striker only for his shot to fly hopelessly over the bar from ten yards.

Unable to break Jamaica’s vice grip on the game after 90 minutes, Guadeloupe will now contest the third placed playoff against fellow defeated Semi-Finalists Cuba, in a Digicel Caribbean Championships encounter that’s sure to be bittersweet. The Reggae Boyz DCC journey must now continue as they eye their Final opponents Grenada in full knowledge that Jamaica was victorious 4-0 when the teams met in their second Final Round Group A fixture.

Jamaica (Team List): 1. Donovan Ricketts (13. Dwayne Miller min 38), 3. Demar Stewart, 7. Dane Richards, 8. Eric Vernan, 9. Andrew Williams (6. Keneil Moodie min 77), 11. Luton Shelton, 12. Demar Phillips (19. Rafe Wolfe min-70), 14. Tyrone Marshall, 17. Rudolph Austin, 18.Jason Morrison, 20.Oneil Thompson

Subs: 2. Omar Cummings, 5. Shavar Thomas, 15. Obrien Woodbine, 16. Roland Dean,

Guadeloupe (Team list): 1. Franck Grandel, 3. Willy Laurence, 5. Xavier Bematol (7. Livio Nabab min-64), 6. Alain Vertot, 8. Stephane Auvray, 11. Mickael Antoine-Curier (15. Cedric Vanoukia min-70), 12. Cedric Avinel, 13. Jean Luc Lambourde, 14. Gregory Gendrey, 18. Ludovic Quistin, 19. Wilfred Loiseau (9. Valerius Vidian min-70),

Subs: 2. Lina Meddy, 4. Fabien Jerome, 16. Fabrice Mercury, 17. Lery Hanany, 20. Mickael Nicoise

Referee: Joel Aguillar ( SLV)

For match pictures and further information visit www.digicelfootball.com 

ENDS

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the largest wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean with more than six million customers.  After seven years, Digicel is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting-edge of wireless communications – the company is also a new entrant to the Central American market.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and now has operations in 31 markets world-wide. Its Caribbean and Central American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel Pacific comprises Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean and Central American sports teams, including the West Indies Cricket Team and Special Olympics teams throughout the region. Digicel is also title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Championships and the Copa de Naciones Digicel, which are the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Visit www.digicelgroup.com  for more information on Digicel