FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique – Jamaica overcame being down a man in extra time and edged one step to closer to defending its Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup title, prevailing over French Guiana, 4-2 on penalty kicks, after a 1-1 draw in the semifinals on Thursday at the Stade Pierre-Aliker.
CONCACAF.com takes a look at the action:
2017 SCOTIABANK CFU MEN’S CARIBBEAN CUP
Semifinal #1
June 22, 2017: Stade Pierre-Aliker – Fort-de-France, Martinique (Att: 5,200)
Jamaica-French Guiana 1-1 aet (0-1)
Jermaine Johnson 70’ / Loic Baal 21’
Jamaica advances to final, 4-2 on penalty kicks
Jamaica: Dwayne Miller; Ladale Ritchie, Oniel Fisher, Sergio Campbell, Ewan Grandison (Ricardo Morris 68’), Cory Burke, Michael Binns, Shaun Francis, Jermaine Johnson (Shamar Nicholson 91’), Kevon Lambert, Junior Flemmings (Owayne Gordon 54’). Head Coach: Theodore Whitmore
French Guiana: Donovan Leon; Hugues Rosime, Kevin Rimane (Miguel Haabo 84’), Jean-David Legrand, Gregory Lescot, Cedric Fabien, Florent Malouda, Loic Baal, Schaquille Dutard (Thomas Issorat 72’), Arnold Abelinti, Rhudy Evens. Head Coach: Jair Karam
R: Wilson Dacosta (Bahamas); AR1: Trevor Porter (Guyana); AR2: Ainsley Rochard (Trinidad & Tobago); 4th: Sherwin Moore (Guyana)
- French Guiana took a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute, when Loic Baal curled a right-footed shot from 22-yards out after Jamaica struggled to clear the ball from a sequence that started with a right-sided corner kick.
- Jermaine Johnson leveled in the 70th minute, sneaking behind the French Guiana defense to connect with his right foot from eight-yards out off Ricardo Morris’ right-sided cross.
- In the 93rd minute, Jamaica was reduced to 10 players as Ladale Ritchie was issued a straight red card for pulling down Arnold Abeltini from behind on a breakaway.
- After Michael Binns missed wide left on Jamaica’s first penalty kick in the shootout, the Reggae Boyz converted their next four attempts (Owayne Gordon, Shamar Nicholson, Oniel Fisher and Cory Burke)
- After Rhudy Evens hit French Guiana’s first penalty kick over the crossbar, Thomas Issorat converted the second, Jean-David Legrand had his effort saved by goalkeeper Dwayne Miller on the third and Cedric Fabien converted the fourth.
- Jamaica will appear in its ninth Caribbean Cup final on Sunday against either Curacao or Martinique. It has captured the title six times, including the last one in 2014.
- French Guiana will play either Curacao or Martinique in the match for third place, also on Sunday.
