U14 Boyz claim Challenge Series title with 7-1 win

The under-14 Reggae Boyz ended their Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Boys U14 Challenge Series with fanfare as they struck seven goals past French Guiana to claim the title in a 7-1 demolition last night.

It was a second half of dreams for Jamaica as they recovered from a one-goal deficit at halftime to seal the victory in a hail of goals.

Matheo Francois opened the scoring for French Guiana in the 20th minute with a stunning strike from outside the box that looped over the head of the Jamaican goalkeeper.

However, Jamaica levelled the score just five minutes after the break as Kelvin Brown struck home from close range after a flurry of opportunities for the Boyz.

Carlondo Morris added his name to the scoresheet in the 52nd minute as he bagged Jamaica’s second goal with a one-time finish inside the box.

Jamaica got their third of the night just a minute later as Brown returned for his double and opened the gates for the onslaught of goals.

French Guiana’s night only got worse as Morris claimed his second, and Jamaica’s fourth of the night, when his shot deflected off the outstretched leg of a defender and nestled into the back of the net.

Morris completed his hat-trick on the hour mark to make it 5-1 for Jamaica before Samuel Taylor added the sixth of the night three minutes later.

Substitute Jaedan Brown-Hanniford got in on the action as well as he closed the night’s proceedings with a right-footed finish from just outside the box.

The win meant that Jamaica ended the competition with a six-game win streak as the Boyz dominated their competition from start to finish.

They ended the series with 25 goals scored and only conceded twice - in the semi-finals to Puerto Rico and in the final against French Guiana.

Jamaica Football Federation President Michael Ricketts congratulated the team and the coaching staff on their performance following their trophy lift at the Dwight Yorke Stadium.

“I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to our national U14 team for their performances in the recently concluded CFU U14 Challenger Series in Trinidad and Tobago,” Ricketts said.

“I would also like to congratulate coach Andrew Peart and his staff for their hard work in preparing the team for the tournament, and I am so delighted that it has paid off, and it is a good feeling knowing that we will be returning to Jamaica with a trophy.”