In Celebration of
Jamaica's Achievements in International Football
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Fuller to Southampton - July 27, 2005 Southampton boss Harry Redknapp hopes to link up with Ricardo Fuller again after agreeing a nominal fee with Portsmouth for the striker. Fuller, 24, played under Redknapp at Fratton Park last season but struggled for fitness. If the Jamaica striker passes a medical he could sign later on Wednesday. Redknapp told the club's official website: "We have got the go-ahead from Pompey and I hope he will come in today. I like him, he is a good player." |
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Both teams went down to 10 players when Ben Olsen was sent off in the 57th minute for taking out skipper Andy Williams as he made a clear run on goal. Nine minutes later, defender Jermaine Taylor was ejected for a clumsy sliding tackle on Beasley miles from the Jamaican goal. The USA will now face
Honduras - who shocked Costa Rica, 3-2 - in the semi-final.
"The major factor for us was our level of concentration on a consistent basis.," he said. "In the first half we were a bit lethargic and weren't tactically disciplined, but in the second half we came out more purposeful in terms of our approach," he added. The result could have been different had Williams been able to beat Casey Keller with his seventh-minute penalty, which would have levelled the score. "We should have at least gotten an early goal, but unfortunately it was brilliant goalkeeping on the part of Casey Keller...," Downswell said. Landon Donovan also missed from the spot in the 90th. USA had the opportunity to make it 4-1 after Khari Stephenson stepped across to the path of John O'Brien, who was enroute to goal, but Donovan's 12-yard shot slammed the horizontal and went over. Long-time USA coach Bruce Arena said he was impressed with Jamaica's fighting spirit even when the game was slipping away from them and ranked the performance as the best from his team in the tournament. "I think it was the best game we played because they (Reggae Boyz) play a more open game (than other opponents). but I like the fact that they (the Boyz) continued to try and stay in the game.," said Arena. Man-of-the-Match Beasley
praised his team for their all-round good performance and said Jamaica
were obviously hurting from their travel blues after their long flight
delay in getting here from Houston on Thursday. But two minutes later, the gods smiled on the Boyz when Greg Vanney cut down Fuller for a penalty. But Williams' 12-yard kick was too close to Keller, who blocked. In the 35th, Jamaica made a good-looking move down the right side as they sought to redeem themselves when Williams flicked on for Tyrone Sawyers, who had acres of space to run, but his service inside was poor. In another timely build-up, the USA went 2-0 up in the 42nd minute when LA Galaxy's Donovan waltzed into the defensive area where he measured a cheeky pass to Beasley, who slipped the ball past a spread-eagled Ricketts. And after 49 minutes, the USA made a threatening raid on goal when Steve Ralston and Wolff combined down the right with the former picking out Beasley, whose low shot from 17 yards rolled menacingly across the face of the goal. From the freekick resulting from the sending off of Olsen, Khari Stephenson's 22-yard free-kick crashed onto the upright and back into play, but Williams, who was following through, could not get his shot on target from 16 yards. Williams, who seemed determined to make up for his missed penalty earlier on, was again on the charge in minute 63, but there was no Jamaican shirt in the box to get onto the end of his cross. The wily, speedy Beasley got his second and sealed victory for his team when he poked home from close range after substitute Chris Armas darted down the left for a pin-point cross as Jamaica's defenders wilted under pressure. Fuller scored his second
goal of the tournament as he pounced on a loose ball to turn home past
Keller. |
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Yesterday the club revealed that the 24 year-old centre-half will play alongside Reggae Boyz teammate Donovan Ricketts at Valley Parade. According to the club's report, Stewart has agreed to sign for one year, subject to receiving a work permit, although the deal had to be kept quiet until the final details were ironed out with his former club Harbour View. However, Harbour View's general manager Clyde Jureidini told the Observer yesterday that the deal had not yet been finalised. Stewart has been a regular member of the Reggae Boyz set up for the past three years and should have little difficulty acquiring a work permit. The 6'2" Stewart
plays in the heart of the Jamaican defence alongside Preston North End's
Claude Davis, and Bantams (Bradford City's) boss Colin Todd is hoping that
Stewart will make a similar impact as Davis, whose club competes in the
higher Coca-Cola Football League Championship. "It's good to know
we've got somebody who can come in, be strong and attack the ball. He's
also quite comfortable in possession. I know Jamaica aren't the strongest
national side, but it is a test when you are playing the likes of the
South American teams. He partners Davis for his country and I've been
impressed with the way he has played at Preston. Damion is a bit similar
in his approach." He had a two-week trial with Stoke City and also had a spell at Darlington earlier this year. Todd said: "I spoke to Tony Pulis at Stoke City and Damion did well there. He is rugged and hungry to do well - the lad has certainly got something. It might take a little while, but I expect him to do very well for us," said the manager. City fans will have to wait to see Stewart in action. Like Ricketts, he is in Jamaica's preliminary 23-man squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in America which kicks off against Guatemala on July 8 in Los Angeles. The Gold Cup tournament
runs until July 24, which means Stewart and Davis will miss at least the
first week of City's pre-season regime. |
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 CONCACAF Gold Cup Countdown - June 25, 2005 The CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament is slated for the United States between July 6 and 24, and Jamaica's Reggae Boyz are down to compete in Group C alongside Mexico, Guatemala and guest team South Africa. The Boyz open against Guatemala on July 8 at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles at 9:00 pm, then meet South Africa two days later at the LA Memorial Coliseum, also in Los Angeles at 2:00 pm. On July 13, they travel to Houston's Reliant Stadium for their clash with Mexico at 9:00 pm.
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Jamaican
international defender Damion "Stew Peas" Stewart signed with
Bradford City in the Coca-Cola Football League One in England.