As the West Indies heads into their five-match T20 series against Australia, white-ball captain Kieron Pollard has conceded that the team struggles with rotating the strike but says they are constantly working to resolve the problem.
Sergio Santos scored a late leveller to earn 10-man Philadelphia Union a 1-1 road draw against New York Red Bulls in MLS on Thursday.
The Brazilian substitute leapt high to head home at the back post in the 85th minute from Olivier Mbaizo's cross.
Despite being reduced to 10 men after goalkeeper Matthew Freese's inexplicable red card, Philadelphia were good value for a draw, edging possession 54-46 per cent and having more shots on target (7-3).
The Red Bulls had been hoping to move up as high as third spot in the Eastern Conference and looked on track when Patryk Klimala put them ahead from the spot.
New York won the penalty when Freese made a comical error, trying to dribble past Wikelman Carmona from a backpass.
Freese's touch was poor, opening the door for Carmona to tap in, with the keeper resorting to tackling the Red Bulls midfielder for a clear-cut penalty and red card.
Polish midfielder Klimala sent substitute keeper Joe Bendik the wrong way from the spot, but New York would be denied late by Santos' pinpoint header.
Philadelphia, remain winless from their past three games, but are third, four points behind Eastern Conference leaders New England. The Red Bulls stay seventh.
Nashville moved up to fifth with a 2-2 home draw against 10-man Atlanta United.
United had opened the scoring after captain Anton Walkes' fifth-minute header but Nashville replied with Hany Mukhtar setting up Jalil Anibaba to equalize before netting a 48th-minute penalty following Erick Torres' handball.
Atlanta's teenage substitute Jackson Conway equalized shortly prior to the hour mark but United were forced to hang on with Irish defender Jake Mulraney sent off late.
Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz have established themselves as genuine title contenders in the flagship Concacaf Gold Cup.
Over the three consecutive editions, the Jamaicans were beaten finalists in 2015 (3-1 to Mexico) and 2017 (2-1 to the United States), and were losing semi-finalists in 2019 (3-1 to the U.S.), performances that underline their pedigree in the biennial tournament.
Having come so close to being crowned champions, the only thing left for the Reggae Boyz at this stage it seems is to lift the trophy.
Still, veteran Damion Lowe says while the team will be targeting the title, it’s a goal they aim to pursue with an air of cautious optimism, and with as little pressure as possible.
“There is no pressure because people always write us off, and even now people don’t give us the recognition that we deserve and how good we are as a team, especially in tournaments,” he said.
“Nobody expected us to become a powerhouse in Concacaf as we started from scratch and built the programme,” Lowe added.
When Jamaica kick-starts its Group C campaign against Suriname at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on July 12, Lowe notes that the plan is to let the country’s football do the talking.
“So for us, the job is the same and that’s to prove people wrong. We will do our best and let the football speak for itself,” said the Al-Ittihad defender, who will be participating in his third Gold Cup tournament.
Lowe, 28, says he has grown to love playing in the Gold Cup.
“Playing in the Gold Cup tournament is always a joy. We are grateful for the experience and how far we have come as a nation and we just want to move on to higher heights,” he said.
The Jamaicans, who are currently hosting a pre-tournament training camp in Orlando, have quality within their ranks with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon and Bailey and former Manchester United wonder kid Ravel Morrison.
With the pair, plus a host of English-born players and local-bred talent, the Boyz are quite capable of ruffling more than just a few feathers in the 2021 edition of the confederation’s marquee competition.
The Boyz also have group stage matches against Costa Rica and Guadeloupe.
Meanwhile, Lowe says he is still getting used to life playing in the Egyptian topflight.
Haiti arrives at the Concacaf Gold Cup with momentum gained from their 4-1 victory over Bermuda in the Prelims to qualify for the main tournament.
This will be the eighth Gold Cup for Les Grenadiers, as the Haitian squad is nicknamed. Unlike some other teams in the tournament, Haiti has full focus on the Gold Cup, since earlier this year the squad was eliminated from World Cup Qualifying.
Though the team once won the earlier version of the Concacaf tournament (in 1973), they have never won the modern version, called the Gold Cup. Coach Jean-Jacques Pierre, who is a former Haitian national team player and is in his first year coaching the squad, will have the players looking to build on their dynamic play from the qualifying tournament.
With a mix of players from teams abroad in Europe sprinkled in with Major League Soccer members and others from Caribbean clubs, Pierre has an intriguing ensemble to manage.
Haiti is coming off their best-ever participation in the 2019 Gold Cup, where the team reached the semifinals. One of their best matches in the tournament was a thrilling comeback 3-2 quarterfinal victory over Canada, who is one of their Group B opponents this year.
Haiti came up against eventual winners Mexico in the semifinal, but fought hard in a 1-0 extra-time loss, with the goal against them coming from a penalty kick taken by Raul Jimenez.
Frantzdy Pierrot was the break-out star for Haiti in the 2021 Prelims. The forward, who plays in France’s Ligue 2, scored three of the team’s four goals in the match against Bermuda. Duckens Nazon, another experienced forward for Haiti who plays in Belgium, scored the final goal from the penalty spot.
Both also scored for Haiti in the team’s electrifying 2019 Gold Cup run, so the pair is likely to slide back into a scoring groove for the team once the tournament begins.
Having ultimately qualified on July 6, Haiti is a bit of a wildcard in Group B, since other coaches haven’t had much advance notice in order to prepare for the squad. Haiti opens up Gold Cup play on July 11 against the United States
Eastern Conference leaders New England Revolution rallied late but went down 3-2 at home to bottom club Toronto in the MLS on Wednesday.
New England sensationally trailed 3-0 within half an hour against lowly Toronto after early strikes from Yeferson Soteldo, Kemar Lawrence and Tsubasa Endoh.
Japanese midfielder Endoh's strike was spectacular, cutting inside before lashing a fine curling shot home in the 24th minute.
Revolution came into the game after stumbling in their past two games, with a draw and a loss following six straight victories and the defeat extended that winless run.
New England fought in the second half, with Spanish midfielder Carles Gil pulling one back in the 56th minute.
In the 78th minute it was 3-2 when Ghanaian Emmanuel Boateng laid off for Adam Buksa to net his fourth of the season, but there was no late equalizer.
New England's lead in the east remains three points as second-placed Orlando City lost 3-1 to Chicago Fire who claimed back-to-back wins.
Seattle Sounders returned to winning ways and extended their unbeaten season with a 2-0 home victory over Houston Dynamo.
Raul Ruidiaz netted his 10th goal of the campaign in second-half stoppage time after Kelyn Rowe put Seattle ahead just past the hour.
The undefeated Sounders have 29 points from 13 games and are three points clear of the west's second-placed Sporting Kansas City.
LA Galaxy are third in the Western Conference, aided by a 3-1 home triumph over Dallas despite the absence of top scorer Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez.
Rayan Raveleson, Kevin Cabral and Ethan Zubak netted for the Galaxy, who were without Hernandez to a calf injury.
Real Salt Lake inflicted more pain on struggling Vancouver Whitecaps with a 4-0 road win with Damir Kreilach netting a brace, while Colorado Rapids got past Minnesota United 2-0.
Montreal extended their unbeaten run to five games after Romell Quioto's 73rd-minute winner in a 2-1 victory over New York City, while LAFC moved up to fifth in the Western Conference with a 2-0 win at Austin.
West Indies Women captain, Stafanie Taylor scored an unbeaten century and took three wickets to guide the West Indies to a five-wicket win over Pakistan Women and take a 1-0 lead in their CG Insurance ODI Series at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.
The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel announced the West Indies squad for the CG Insurance One-Day International (ODI) Series against Australia. The squad features most of the players from the 3-0 clean sweep over Sri Lanka in the CG Insurance ODI Series earlier this year.
There are recalls for experienced left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell; Shimron Hetmyer, the left-handed top-order batsman; and Roston Chase, the right-handed all-rounder.
The CG Insurance ODI Series will be played at Kensington Oval in Barbados on July 20, 22 and 24 with all three matches scheduled as day/night encounters. The first ball is 2:30 pm (1:30 pm Jamaica Time). There is great anticipation as this is Australia’s first tour of the West Indies since the tri-nation series back in 2016.
The series forms part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ODI Super League where both teams are aiming to win points to be one of the top seven teams that will secure automatic qualification for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India.
“This squad is coming off a comprehensive series win against Sri Lanka which should boost their confidence going into what is expected to be a tougher contest against Australia. The return of Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase and Sheldon Cottrell adds greater depth and experience to the squad,” said Roger Harper, CWI's Chief Selector.
“Playing in familiar home conditions, hopefully, will bring out the best in each player thereby enabling the team to perform at a consistently high standard. This CG Insurance ODI series against Australia is part of the ICC Cricket World Cup qualification process where every game and every point counts, so it is very important.”
FULL SQUAD: Kieron Pollard (Captain), Shai Hope (Vice-Captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Anderson Philip, Nicholas Pooran and Romario Shepherd.
Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson continues to send clear signals that she will be a force to be reckoned with in the sprints this Olympics, after registering a convincing win over the Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller-Uibo, at the Gyulai István Memorial meet, on Tuesday.
Jackson, who was formerly a 400m specialist, stepped down to the shorter distances this year and has had impressive results. The sprinter clocked new personal bests of 10.77 and 21.82 last month at her country’s national championships.
In Hungary, on Tuesday, the runner continued in that vein, dismissing the field to finish first in 21.96. Jackson seized control of the race early and comfortably held off a typically fast-finishing Miller-Uibo, who took second in 22.15. Dafne Schippers, the 2017 World Champion, was third in 22.70.
In other action, both Caribbean athletes in the men’s 110m hurdles failed to secure a podium spot. Jamaica’s Ronald Levy finished fourth with a time of 13.25 and Shane Brathwaite was 7th in 14.10. The race was won by the United States’ Grant Halloway who took the top spot with a time of 13.08.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Jamaica’s Janieve Russell took third in a season’s best 53.68. The race was won by Netherland’s Femke Bol in a meet record 52.81.
Reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah scored an impressive win over compatriot and rival Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, in the women’s 100m, at the Gyulai István Memorial meet on Tuesday.
Two weeks ago, it was Fraser-Pryce who beat Thompson-Herah to claim the Jamaica 100m national title. This time around, Thompson-Herah turned the tables to lead virtually wire to wire to clock a fast 10.71. The time was a new meeting record and just one 100th of a second outside of her personal best.
Fraser-Pryce was second in 10.82, with Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou third in 10.86. Another Caribbean athlete, Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle Lee-Ahye was third in 11.09, her second-best time this season. Fraser-Pryce owns the fastest time in the world this year, and second-best all-time, after her 10.63 clocking last month.
Elsewhere, Stefanie-Ann McPherson continued her excellent run of form after clocking another sub-50 time to claim the women’s 400m. Running from lane 4, the Jamaican national champion had all but covered the field by the halfway mark and was comfortable in getting to the line in 49.99. The United States’ Wadeline Jonathas was second in 50.70, with the Netherlands ’ Lieke Klaver third in 51.29.
In other events, Jamaica’s Fedrick Dacres claimed third spot in the men’s discus after registering a best of 65.08. The event was won by Sweden’s Daniel Sthal who recorded 67.71. Lithuania’s Andrius Gudžius was second with a mark of 66.71.
French Guiana will be out to tame resurgent Trinidad and Tobago when the two sides meet in the Second Round of the 2021 Gold Cup Prelims on Tuesday at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The winner will advance to the Gold Cup group stage and slot into Group A along with Mexico, El Salvador and Curacao.
But first things first, a tricky test awaits for both sides.
Tuesday’s contest will mark French Guiana’s first match of the Prelims and their first official match since their group finale in League B of the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League, a 3-1 win over Saints Kitts and Nevis in November 2019.
Nevertheless, with a team boasting many European-based players, including forward Sloan Privat, who scored one of his country’s two goals in the 2017 Gold Cup, and defenders Kevin Rimane, formerly of Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, and Stade Brestois 29’s Ludovic Baal, plus Boulogne goalkeeper Simon Lugier, Les Yono Dokos have the pieces in place for a good performance.
While Trinidad and Tobago’s campaign in Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 ended in a disappointing fashion in the First Round, the Soca Warriors are enjoying a resurgence under Interim Head Coach Angus Eve.
Trinidad and Tobago returned to their high-flying ways in a 6-1 triumph over Montserrat in the First Round of the Prelims, with Kevin Molino, Marcus Joseph and Judah Garcia among the goal-scorers.
A win against French Guiana would provide a massive momentum boost going into the Gold Cup group stage.
Sporting Kansas City moved to the top of the Western Conference after defeating LA Galaxy 2-0 in MLS on Sunday.
Sporting KC scored twice in the closing stages to see off the Galaxy in Los Angeles and leapfrog Seattle Sounders atop the west.
The Galaxy were without former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez after he was a late withdrawal prior to kick-off.
Chicharito scored a brace against San Jose Earthquakes last time out to take his total to 10 goals in 10 games this season – only four players have scored more through their first 10 appearances in an MLS campaign, Carlos Vela (Los Angeles FC) in 2019, Chris Wondolowski (Earthquakes) in 2012, Landon Donovan (Galaxy) in 2008 and Roy Lassiter (DC United) in 1999, all with 11 goals.
The Galaxy felt his absence as visiting Sporting KC – who have scored an MLS-high 24 goals in 2021 – won late thanks to Johnny Russell and Khiry Shelton.
Russell broke the deadlock in the 81st minute with a looping header and Shelton made sure of the points in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Sporting KC and Seattle are level on 26 points, but the former top the Western Conference with more wins, though they have played a game extra.
The Sounders tied the MLS record with 12 unbeaten games to start the season following their 1-1 draw at Colorado Rapids.
Alex Roldan put Seattle ahead four minutes before half-time, but Colorado's Michael Barrios restored parity approaching the hour-mark.
Elsewhere, lowly Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps played out a 2-2 draw.
Captain Stafanie Taylor took four wickets and scored an unbeaten 43 to lead the West Indies Women to a six-wicket victory over Pakistan Women at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua Sunday.
Guatemala are a step closer to the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup group stage after posting a 4-0 victory against Guyana in the First Round of the 2021 Gold Cup Prelims on Saturday night at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Veteran jockey Shane Ellis stylishly completed his 21st Classic triumph as the unfancied colt Calculus swept to a commanding upset win in Saturday’s Jamaica St Leger in his first run for trainer Gary Subratie.
The 4-5 favourite Miniature Man was a disappointing sixth as Calculus rebounded from a seventh-place finish in the early June 2000 Guineas to land the Betmakers JA$4.5 Million (US$30,126) St Leger by 6-3/4 lengths. He scored at 7-1 odds and handed Trinidadian owner Chevan Maharaj his second St Leger win at Caymanas Park in three years.
As Ellis surged to his fifth St Leger success and trainer Subratie his second in a row, the 3-2 second favourite Further and Beyond was second and the Fillies Guineas winner She’s a Wonder (9-2) third a further length and a quarter behind.
“Number five is very very sweet,” said Ellis after triumphantly reuniting with Maharaj, whose colt Supreme Soul had given the ex-champion jockey his first Triple Crown victory in 2019.
It was Ellis’s first race aboard Calculus as the colt, bred by Sensational Slam out of the Bernardini mare Trinket, recorded his third win from eight lifetime starts.
Out of the starting gates, the 2000 Guineas champion Miniature Man cruised out of the three-box to lead and went to the mile pole in front, chased by the 93-1 outsider Simba the Lion and last year’s champion two-year-old Further and Beyond.
Ellis made a sharp move forward leaving the six-furlong marker and in a flash had surged from seventh to fourth on the heels of the front running trio.
Calculus and Further and Beyond quickened away from a fading Miniature Man for a duel leaving the half-mile while She’s a Wonder accelerated into a challenging third position coming off the final bend.
Ellis was off the rail as he engaged reigning co-champion jockey Dane Nelson aboard Further and Beyond on his outside while She’s a Wonder darted to the rail for her homestretch challenge.
The battle was brief as Calculus responded to a few left-handed cracks of the whip and pulled clear for the big win that Ellis thinks makes him favourite for the August 6 Jamaica Derby.
“He’ll be the one to beat for sure,” said Ellis, who already has five Derby wins.
Calculus clocked two minutes 08 and 4/5ths of a second for the 10-furlong trip.
“It feels very good, I love my fans because they know when it comes to big races, Shane Ellis is the man,” added the 47-year-old who also won St Leger races aboard Typewriter (2012), Relampago (2014), Marquesas (2018) and Supreme Soul two years ago.
Subratie, who won last year’s St Leger with 31-1 outsider Nipster, only took charge of Calculus – coming from the Anthony Nunes stables -- in recent weeks. The colt arrived at his stables on June 7 when Maharaj purchased him from another T&T owner Shivam Maharaj.
In spite of Calculus’s failure to win from three starts since his Sir Howard Stakes Guineas prep victory in mid-March, Subratie said he anticipated a strong St Leger effort.
“I expected him to run very well because he has beaten those horses, some of them before. He had some issues, it took a couple of weeks to kind of figure it out,” Subratie said, adding that Calculus will be the horse to beat in the Derby. “Most definitely he just showed it.”
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