MLS stars help Reggae Boyz win Caribbean title

• by Soccer America , Dec 15, 2008

[DIGICEL CARIBBEAN CHAMPIONSHIP] Former England star John Barnes passed his first test as Jamaica's national team coach with flying colors as the Reggae Boyz won the Digicel Caribbean Championship with a 2-0 win over Grenada in Sunday's final played at Kingston's National Stadium. Five MLS players -- Shavar Thomas, Tyrone Marshall, Andrew Williams, Dane Richards and Omar Cummings -- played for Jamaica.

Luton Shelton converted a penalty in each half for Jamaica, which lost on a tiebreaker to Mexico for second place in their World Cup qualifying group and was eliminated.

"After the disappointment of the World Cup, we needed this and we did it," Barnes said. "We got a bit sloppy in the second half, but overall I'm happy."

Jamaica, Grenada, Cuba and Guadeloupe qualified for next year's Gold Cup.

Guadeloupe won the third-place game on penalties, 5-4, over Cuba after the match was ended in a 0-0 tie.

GAME SUMMARY:
Dec. 15 in Kingston
Jamaica 2 Grenada 0. Goals: Shelton pen. 15, pen. 73.
Jamaica -- Ricketts, Thomas, T.Marshall, Phillips, Austin, Morrison, Thompson, Richards (Cummings, 75), Vernan, A.Williams (Dean, 65), Shelton (Moodie, 87).
Grenada -- Noel, Phillip, Langaigne, M.Marshall, Modeste, Leo, Julien (F.Williams, 77),  Baptiste, (J. Williams, 83), Rennie, Charles,  Bain.
Referee: Neal Brizan (Trinidad & Tobago).