Jamaica put in a brave performance in their Copa America Centenario opener but went down 1-0 to Venezuela on Sunday.
Josef Martinez proved the
difference as Venezuela's Copa America Centenario got off to the best
possible start with a 1-0 win over 10-man Jamaica at Soldier Field in
Chicago.
A first-half red card for Jamaican
midfielder Rodolph Austin made life hard for the Jamaicans after going
1-0 down to Martinez's 15th minute strike.
However,
despite a brave effort in the second period, Jamaica were unable to
avoid defeat in the first Group C fixture on Sunday.
Jamaica
had to make do without captain and new Premier League champion Wesley
Morgan, calling on Crystal Palace's Adrian Mariappa and Portland Timbers
centre-back Jerome Taylor in defence.
Venezuela
coach Rafael Dudamel had most of his European stars on hand as Salomon
Rondon started up front, with Torino's Martinez in behind, Genoa's Tomas
Rincon manning midfield and Malaga's Robert Rosales in defence.
The contest exploded into life from the first whistle, as an entertaining end-to-end battle broke out.
The
Venezuelans were the first to go close when a promising attack was
ended by a tame attempt in the area, which made for light work for
goalkeeper Andre Blake.
Blake launched an instant
counter as Jamaica employed a direct approach, looking for the strength
and pace of Birmingham City's Clayton Donaldson, and he looked to have
won a penalty only for play to be called back for a tight offside call.
Donaldson
went close shortly after as he forced a spectacular save from Daniel
Hernandez, before Je-Vaughn Watson hit the crossbar with a towering
header from the resulting corner, but that would only spark Venezuela
into life.
After some lovely one-touch passing,
Alejandro Guerra eventually crafted an opportunity for Martinez who
finished his one-on-one chance with a classy strike, slotting the ball
through Blake's legs after 15 minutes.
Things went
from bad to worse for Jamaica as they were reduced to 10 men just eight
minutes later when Austin was shown a straight red card.
The
midfielder clearly won the ball ahead of Rincon, but his follow through
saw his studs land firmly in the Genoa player's ankle, which prompted
the referees somewhat controversial call.
The
Jamaicans showed some fight despite being a man down, as Donaldson led
an increasingly rare charge forward, but the undermanned side struggle
to get the required numbers in the box as Hernandez pounced on a loose
ball in the box.
Leicester City star Morgan entered the fray after 40 minutes as Kemar Lawrence was forced off through injury.
There
were no changes from either side at half-time, but one notable absentee
when the teams returned from the break was Jamaica coach Willy Schafer,
who had been sent to the stands following a robust conversation with
the referee.
It was his side who started the
brighter of the two, with the majority of the first 10 minutes of the
second period played in Venezuela's half, before Martinez had a chance
to double his tally and his team's lead at the other end, but he was
denied by Blake following a delightful pass from Rondon.
Joel
McAnuff went close when he flashed a chance wide for Jamaica, before
Wilker Angel's superb diving header for Venezuela was denied by an
incredible save from Blake just minutes later.
Morgan's
presence at set-pieces continued to wreak havoc - even from throw-ins -
as he helped to craft a superb chance for Watson but he could only put
his half-volley well over, meaning the brave Jamaicans left Soldier
Field empty-handed.
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