PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad -- Jamaica's Reggae Boyz gained an important
road win to move back into contention for a spot in next year's World Cup,
rallying to beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 Saturday.
Trinidad, last at 0-5-1, went ahead in the 26th minute on a goal by Stern
John, who got the ball after Marvin Andrews intercepted a pass at midfield.
Onandi Lowe tied the score in the 30th minute when he headed in a cross from
Fitzroy Simpson and Deon Burton put Jamaica ahead in the 68th when he beat
goalkeeper Clayton Ince following a failed offsides trap.
Fighting broke out in the stands at the Queen's Park Oval between
Trinidadian and Jamaican fans, and police had to rush in to separate the
dueling sides. No arrests or injuries were reported.
Trinidad was playing its first game since Rene Simoes, Jamaica's coach at
the 1998 World Cup, replaced Ian Porterfield as coach. It also was Trinidad's
first game since star forward Dwight Yorke and team captain Russell Latapy quit
international soccer following a 2-0 loss at the United States on June 20.
Jamaica (2-2-2), which made its first World Cup appearance in 1998, is
fourth in the finals of the North and Central American and Caribbean region,
trailing Honduras (2-1-2) on goal difference.
The United States, which leads at 4-0-1, plays Sunday at Mexico, fifth at
1-3-1. Honduras plays at home Sunday against second-place Costa Rica (3-1-1).
The top three nations advance to next year's World Cup in Japan and South
Korea.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
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