Sometimes being in the undercard pays off. Although Jamaica-Costa Rica was the first of two matches on Wednesday night in Carson, California it played like the main. With four goals and two lead changes the Ticas and the Reggae Boyz stole the show playing to an enthralling 2-2 draw.
The day before the match, Jamaica head coach Winfried Schaffer said that set pieces would be important for his side. The German noted that 30% of goals socred in the Copa America, a tournament the Island side failed to score in, came from the dead ball.
It was a self fulfilling prophecy as the highly-touted Costa Ricans were stunned in the 13th minute when Kemar Lawrence’s long throw fell kindly for Garath McCleary to smash home at the back post.
The goal ended a 339 minute goal drought for Jamaica, but in truth Costa Rica only had themselves to blame. The men in red created the cardinal sin of letting the ball hit the turf in their own box. The bounce deceived Junior Diaz and McCleary held his nerve when most wouldn’t have been able to believe their luck.
Jamaica’s newly found defensive discipline was on display as the Reggae Boyz sat in two banks of four with just 10 yards of space in between the defense and midfield. This made it extremely hard for Costa Rica to play into the pockets in between the lines.
With Jamaica so compact Costa Rica needed to move the ball quickly from side to side. Futures will now say it was no surprise that the equalizer came from a set piece, but the manner in which it was scored was special.
Los Ticos won a free kick at the top of the box, but instead of shooting, Bryan Ruiz slipped the ball to David Ramirez. As the Jamaican defense charged out, Ramirez clipped the ball over the defense and Roy Miller outwitted the offsides trap and placed his header with pinpoint precision.
It was no doubt something Paulo Wanchope had cooked up on the training ground, but it was executed to perfection.
The equalizer clearly rattled the Caribbean side who completely lost their shape for the next four minutes. Balls around the outside backs and the long ball over the top had been troubling the Jamaicans.
Now in disarray, no one picked up the run of Ramirez who latched onto a long ball from Celso Borges and neatly lobbed Simon Dawkins to give the Costa Ricans the lead.
Wes Morgan almost kept it out, but could only slam the ball into the roof of his own net.
At times before that four minute flurry, Jamaica had all 10 outfielders defending in their on half. Now with Jamaica forced to push up, Costa Rica had more space to play into and combine. The halftime whistle came just in time for the Reggae Boyz to collect themselves and get back on song.
Jamaica came storming out of the gates to start the second half. Costa Rica still looked half asleep as Jobi McAnuff weaved his way through the defense to score a brilliant solo goal.
At 2-2 Jamaica looked the stronger of the two sides and the more likely to grab the winner. Darren Mattocks came on just after the hour mark for Giles Barnes and almost scored with his first involvement.
The Vancouver Whitecaps forward cut inside and created a good angle for himself, but his effort, while well struck, was right at the feet of Esteban.
Mattocks continued to tests the wits of the Costa Rica back-line making it a very uncomfortable final 30 minutes for the Central American champions.
McCleary began to witness space on the right side. The Reading winger became very dangerous cutting inside opening up space for the diagonal run of Mattocks. On a few occacions the ball was on, but the youngster was a bit to anxious to get behind the back line and was flagged for offsides.
It was another run from McCleary that almost gave the Caribbean champions all three points. This time McCleary knifed his way through a double team and laid the ball off for Simon Dawkins whose shot looked destined for goal but Esteban made a sensational save to make sure that last year’s World Cup quarterfinalist kept a share of the points.
Jamaica deserved more for their enterprise in the second half against a surprisingly stagnant Costa Rica side that didn’t move the ball with the verve and vigor that we are used to seeing.
The old adage applies, however, that had you asked Schaffer before the game if he’d take a point against Costa Rica before the game he probably would have said that’d be a good result.
Now he has a side that’s hungry for more and looks just has added an attacking edge to the staunch defensive side he had already fashioned.
