Jamaica lose qualifier

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (CMC):

JAMAICA and Suriname, two of the Caribbean Football Union's four teams at the CONCACAF Under-20 Boys' Championship, lost their opening matches on Tuesday.

The Jamaicans are looking to emulate their Under-17 compatriots and reach this age group's World Cup to be staged in Colombia later this year.

But they made a rocky start, when Jhamie Hyde scored an own goal; and Guatemala's Gerson Lima added an insurance item just before half-time to lead the home team to a 2-0 victory in the feature match at the Mateo Flores Stadium.

Suriname might have been inspired by a historic victory over the United States 25 years ago, but the Americans were not in a sentimental mood and hammered them 4-0 in the opening match.

In the night cap match, a failure of the stadium lights that caused a near 20-minute stoppage in the second half failed to save Jamaica.

A defensive blunder gave Guatemala the lead in the eighth minute, when Young Reggae Boyz defender Oneil Fisher tried to clear a ball from the touchline near the benches, but Kendel Herrate blocked the attempt.

Herrate chased the rebound toward the Jamaica penalty area and sent in a cross that Hyde, attempting to clear, deflected the ball with his right foot at the edge of the six-yard box and sent it past Jamaica goalkeeper Kemar Foster.

Best chance

The Young Reggae Boyz settled down and had their best chance in the first half when Neco Brett beat the offside trap and hit a right-footed effort that Guatemala keeper Jose Carlos Morales was able to tip on to the crossbar.

Jamaica's comeback hit a snag, however, when Jose del Aguila sent Lima sprinting down the right side and into the area to stroke a feeble shot under Foster to double the Chapines' lead after 35 minutes.

Both sides had their chances in the second half, which was marred when three banks of lights suddenly went dark in the 55th minute.

Right-footed blast

When play resumed, Jamaica's frustration continued on the hour mark, when Allan Ottey drove a right-footed blast off the right post.

The hopes of the Young Boyz faded further when Hyde, who received his first yellow in the 42nd, was shown a second by Salvadoran referee Marlon Mejia for knocking over Cristian Lima with a high forearm to the face.

Jamaica will look to recover today when they face Honduras, while Guatemala will complete Group A play on Saturday against the Hondurans.

Suriname will next play today against Panama, while the Americans close Group B on Saturday against the Panamanians.