………Grenada swamp USVI  7- 0
A first-half double by Greg Foster piloted Jamaica to a deserved victory against a gutsy performance by, host, Guyana when the two countries met at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday night to climax the CFU Group ‘C’ U-20 World Cup qualifiers.
The Westmorelander took his tally to eight goals from three games to ensure Jamaica qualify for the CONCACAF 12-team finals with three wins from their three outings.
Guyana who ended with two wins and a loss still has a chance of making the CONCACAF finals set for Guatemala next year April.
They will join the other three second placed teams from the other groups to contest a play-off early next year for the final CFU spot. Grenada who had a win and two defeats was third and the USVI propped up the group after conceding twenty-five goals and scoring one in three losses.
Sunday night’s decisive group fixture started at a fast clip and had a sustained pace throughout with Guyana’s central defense duo of captain Colin Nelson and Ryan Crandon as well as left back Deshawn Joseph playing with authority and some semblance of cohesion to deny the Jamaicans aggressive intent.
Foster who plays for Reno in the Jamaica Premier League opened the scoring for the young Reggae Boyz in the 17th minute as he finished at the far post after Devon Williams broke through the middle and drew goalkeeper Richie Richards off his line.
Williams’ shot was partially saved by Richards and as the ball trickled towards the far post the ever alert Foster left his marker to tap home.
Foster was again in the picture when in the 26th minute his attempted right booter from inside the box took a deflection off of captain Nelson and left Richards beaten.
Guyana did enjoy moments of threat on the Jamaican goal but without success.
Left midfielder Trayon Bobb had a low hard left booter parried away at the near post, a curling Joseph left booter flew inches above the cross bar and a Crandon header was cleared off the line as the over two thousand fans waited in expectations. In the final ten minutes of the first half Guyana were in total control but just could not breach the Sergio Campbell marshaled defense.
On the resumption the battle for midfield possession continued with neither team having dominance while the Guyana defense in particular Crandon seemed a tower of strength. It was the first game of the tournament  where the Jamaicans were held goal-less in a half, but despite their gutsy performance the young Guyanese failed in their bid to stop the Jamaicans.
Assistant Coach of the Jamaica team Andrew Edwards in a post game comment told Chronicle Sport, “We did not play to our full potential and gave away the ball too easy in midfield. All credit must go to the Guyana side for their performance and we weren’t surprised. As far as the result is concerned that is what matters at this stage. We wanted three points and that is what matters”.
Guyana’s Coach, Gordon Brathwaite was gracious in defeat, “Jamaica showed that they wanted it more. They played with more urgency and we had no luck. It was a real learning experience for the players and I have confidence in the crop of players, but we need the necessary preparations to be more match ready. I am proud of what we have achieved in such a short space of time”.
Meanwhile, Grenada ended the tournament on a high after inflicting a 7-0 drubbing over the USVI in the opening game on Sunday.
Morton Phillip led all scorers with strikes in the 26th, 38th,83rd and 90+1 minutes. There was a double for Mickey Ganness (48’ and 59’) and Alex Jones got the other in the 68th minute.
The rest of the groups in the CFU qualifying competition are ‘A’ –Cuba, St Kitts & Nevis, Netherlands Antilles and the British Virgin Islands ; ‘B’ – Antigua & Barbuda, Guadeloupe and Bermuda and ‘D’ –Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba and St. Vincent &the Grenadines.