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NORTH SOUND, Antigua CMC – Defending champions Jamaica were dumped from the CFU Caribbean Cup here on Wednesday night, after losing 1-0 to Cuba in their final preliminary match. Entering the feature contest at the Vivian Richards Stadium needing nothing less than a win to qualify, the Reggae Boyz failed to produce and were up-ended by Aliannis Urgellés’s second half goal.
Cuba are joined in today’s semi-finals by Martinique who trounced French Guiana 3-1 to finish on top of Group B with seven points. Cuba were one behind in second, with French Guiana third on three points and Jamaica finishing on a single point without a win.
The result meant that Jamaica also missed out on a spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup scheduled for the United States next year, after eight appearances in the biennial confederation championship.
Jamaica have been good enough to reach the quarter-finals of the last five Gold Cups, and only recently qualified for the final round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.
The title-holders were frustrated by an organised Cuban side who soaked up Jamaica’s attacks before hitting on the counter.
Ariel Martinez controlled Cuba’s strategy from midfield, sitting at the core of the passing game and organising their attacks.
After a goalless first half, the game came to life in the 57th minute when Cuba took the lead through Urgellés. Following a corner from the right side, he eluded his marker to head past goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr.
Tramaine Stewart came close for Jamaica moments later but his shot flew just wide of its target, and goalkeeper Odelin Molina then repelled everything Jamaica’s attackers could throw his way.
In the preceding game, Martinique dominated from the outset with Frédéric Piquionne, Kévin Parsemain and Anthony Angely all getting on the scoresheet, while Jean-Claude Darcheville answered for French Guiana late on.
Piquionne put Martinique ahead in the 11th minute with a neat header before the outstanding Parsemain doubled the lead in the 33rd minute with a wonderful solo effort, for his 12th goal of the 2012 competition.
Angely then put the game to bed 12 minutes from the end when he converted Parsemain’s cross and Darcheville’s strike two minutes later came too little too late.
In today’s semi-finals, Haiti will meet Cuba while Martinique take on former champions Trinidad and Tobago.
Cuba are joined in today’s semi-finals by Martinique who trounced French Guiana 3-1 to finish on top of Group B with seven points. Cuba were one behind in second, with French Guiana third on three points and Jamaica finishing on a single point without a win.
The result meant that Jamaica also missed out on a spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup scheduled for the United States next year, after eight appearances in the biennial confederation championship.
Jamaica have been good enough to reach the quarter-finals of the last five Gold Cups, and only recently qualified for the final round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.
The title-holders were frustrated by an organised Cuban side who soaked up Jamaica’s attacks before hitting on the counter.
Ariel Martinez controlled Cuba’s strategy from midfield, sitting at the core of the passing game and organising their attacks.
After a goalless first half, the game came to life in the 57th minute when Cuba took the lead through Urgellés. Following a corner from the right side, he eluded his marker to head past goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr.
Tramaine Stewart came close for Jamaica moments later but his shot flew just wide of its target, and goalkeeper Odelin Molina then repelled everything Jamaica’s attackers could throw his way.
In the preceding game, Martinique dominated from the outset with Frédéric Piquionne, Kévin Parsemain and Anthony Angely all getting on the scoresheet, while Jean-Claude Darcheville answered for French Guiana late on.
Piquionne put Martinique ahead in the 11th minute with a neat header before the outstanding Parsemain doubled the lead in the 33rd minute with a wonderful solo effort, for his 12th goal of the 2012 competition.
Angely then put the game to bed 12 minutes from the end when he converted Parsemain’s cross and Darcheville’s strike two minutes later came too little too late.
In today’s semi-finals, Haiti will meet Cuba while Martinique take on former champions Trinidad and Tobago.
