MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz will meet Trinidad & Tobago’s Soca Warriors in today’s (Tuesday) final of the Caribbean Cup, after brushing aside Haiti 2-0 in their final Group B game on Sunday night.
Playing at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, the hosts got goals from Simon Dawkins and the in-form Darren Mattocks, to easily secure their spot at the top of the group and qualify for the final.
Haiti, however, the 2007 champions, finished second in the group and booked their place in next year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.
Today’s final will now see the battle of the two traditionally strongest teams in the region, though Jamaica has slipped in the rankings of late behind a string of poor results.
T&T, meanwhile, the highest ranked Caribbean side in the most recent FIFA World rankings at 49th, will start as favourites.
On Sunday, Jamaica secured their passage to the championship game when they scored two first-half goals in quick succession to stun the Haitians.
Dawkins put them on the scoresheet in the 13th minute after being set up by Mattocks, who buried his third goal of the tournament seven minutes later to double Jamaica’s lead.
Haiti never seriously threatened but gained a penalty kick with a minute remaining in the game. However, goalkeeper Andre Blake guessed the right way to pull off the save.
Martinique, meanwhile, finished their group campaign on a winning note when they easily turned away Antigua & Barbuda 2-0 at the same venue.
Bedi Buval put them ahead in the 57th minute following a goal-less first half before Jose Goron doubled the lead with seconds left in the contest.
French Guiana finished with the best third-place record in the tournament and will face Honduras in a playoff next year to determine which will seize the last of Gold Cup berth. (CMC)