FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique, CMC – Defending champions Jamaica and Guadeloupe will clash in today’s final of the Digicel Caribbean Cup here after carving out hard-working victories in the semi-finals on Friday night.
The Reggae Boyz, heavy favourites to repeat as title-holders, needed a goal from Troy Smith in added extra time to beat a stubborn Grenada 2-1 while Guadeloupe were forced to come from behind to hammer out a similar verdict over Cuba.
Guadeloupe’s triumph represents the first time the French side have reached the finals of the Caribbean’s premier football tournament, but they will now start as underdogs against a confident Jamaica side who are still unbeaten.
Grenada, however, almost ended that winning streak as they produced a solid performance to nearly spring perhaps the upset of the Finals. Their talismanic striker Kithson Bain provided the equaliser on 13 minutes after Major League Soccer player Dane Richards had opened the scoring for the Reggae Boys six minutes earlier.
Grenada then defended stoutly, while causing some problems of their own in the Jamaica defence, and scores were locked at the end of regular time.
Smith then became the hero when he poked home from close range to end Grenada’s resistance. Smith, a 72nd minute substitute for Francis, then settled Jamaica’s nerves in the first period of extra time when he knocked in Austin’s cross from the right.
In the other semi-final, Cuba took the lead in the 34th minute when Reysandri Cervantez smashed home from near point blank range, thanks to a great right-sided free kick from captain Jaine Valencia.
The goal was apt reward for Cuba’s domination of the first half but it was as much as they would get, as the French came roaring back in the second half.