Jamaica take on Ecuador today
Published:Wednesday | August 12, 2009 | 8:39 AM
Jamaica and Ecuador will face off in a friendly international at the Giants Stadium in New Jersey, USA, starting tonight at 8 o’clock Jamaica time.
The game will be Jamaica’s first match following a disappointing CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA, when a full-strength squad bowed out in the group stage.
Jamaica will enter the game without their English-based players because of club commitments.
However, there are seven players who are based in the USA and Scandinavia, named to the 18-member squad.
But the coaching staff was forced to make two changes this week with the late withdrawal of defensive stalwart Tyrone Marshall and midfielder Rodolph Austin due to injuries.
The squad sees the return of Khari Stephenson of Aalesunds SK in Norway and Jamaica-based standouts Devon Hodges of Rivoli United and Keammar Daley of Meadhaven United.
The Ecuador team is still in the mix to qualify for World Cup 2010 from the competitive South America group.
They have beaten the likes of Argentina, 2-0 in June, and drawn with Brazil to be fifth in the CONMEBOL group.
Jamaica have played Ecuador once at the senior level, losing 2-1 away in a friendly international on October 4, 1996.