Jamaica crush goal-shy Grenada
Reuters - Tuesday 07 June 2011, 04:19
LOS ANGELES - Jamaica made a strong start
to their bid for a first Gold Cup title with a crushing 4-0
victory over Grenada on Monday.
First half goals from Luton Shelton and Ryan Johnson were
supplemented after the break by Demar Phillips and Keammar Daley
efforts as Jamaica dominated their opponents in an opening Group
B match that could have been much worse for Grenada.
"Our finishing was a big letdown," Jamaica manager Theodore
Whitmore told reporters after his team recorded 10 shots on
goal. "We managed to score four - what a way to start."
Grenada, the smallest nation competing in the 12-nation
tournament for North and Central America and the Caribbean, have
yet to record a Gold Cup goal after being outscored 10-0 in
their first tournament appearance in 2009.
Grenada goalkeeper Shemel Louison made some daring saves in
the second half, but his team managed just one wayward attempt
at goal and could not keep Jamaica from dominating possession.
Johnson, who plays for the San Jose Earthquakes in Major
League Soccer, was named the man-of-the-match as he helped his
side thrive even without forward Omar Cummings, who missed the
game with an ankle injury.
"I want to help Jamaica go as far as we can in this
tournament," Johnson said. "We did the most important thing, and
that was to keep a clean sheet.
Both teams resume Group B action on Friday in Miami, where
Jamaica face Guatemala and Grenada take on Honduras.