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16.09.02 - Haiti defeated Jamaica 2:1 at the Harbour View Stadium in Kingston Sunday in the first leg of the second Caribbean Zone playoff for the FC Under-20 final tournament.

After both teams had the chance to take the lead in the match?s early stages it was Kelly Jean-Rood who opened the scoring for Haiti after finding a seam in the Jamaica defence and putting his 18-yard missile past Reggae Boyz ?keeper Allien Whittaker in the 12th minute.

Haiti continued to pressure the Jamaican defence and doubled their advantage just after the half hour, Max Louis hitting home after a superb pass long pass along the right side from Jean-Rood, who floated the ball over Whittaker to his waiting teammate. With neither team capitalizing further chances, the score remaining 2:0 at halftime.

Jamaica started the second half with a flurry of activity in the forward third of the field that resulted in a goal from Richard West just one minute after the interval to trim the lead to 2:1; leaving a pile a defenders and teammates behind as he won a scramble for a loose ball in front of the Haiti goal.

However, Jamaica?s joy would be short-lived, the Haitian side retreating into defensive posture and clamping down on the hosts attacks to ensure victory.

The second leg is set for Port-au-Prince on 29 September.

Despite the loss, Jamaica head coach Wendell Downsell remains positive: "It will be doubly hard for us in Haiti now, but I don't think it is beyond us, we can definitely salvage something in Haiti," he told the Jamaica Obsserver.

The winner of the series will fill out the Group B final tournament, set for Charleston, South Carolina USA from 13-17 November, which will also feature Canada, El Salvador and the host country.

15.09.2002: Kingston, Jamaica; Harbor View Stadium (a: 550)

JAMAICA ? HAITI 1:2 (0:2)

Richard WEST 46' - Kelly JEAN-ROOD 12'; Max LOUIS 35'

JAM: Allien Whittaker - Alex Thomas, Leon Williams (64: Christopher McCrae), Demar Stewart, Newton Sterling (46: Omar Brissett), Ryan Maxwell, Sean Fraser, Akeem Priestly (46: Keith Kelly), Craig Gordon, Richard West, Dane Richards. Booked: Richards 5?.

HAI: Ronel St Louis - Kenol Versailles, Pierre Jean-Jacques, Stephane Guillame, Delsa Jean Judain, Guiliano Phillipe (90: Pascal Milien), Wadson Coriolan, Brunel Fucien, Kelly Jean Rood (56: Patrick Jacques), Richard Pierre St Louis and Max Louis (46: James St Cyr). Booked: Louis 45?; Jean-Jacques 53?.

Source: www.concacaf.com

R: Noel BYNOE (TRI)