Curacao edges Jamaica for first-ever Caribbean Cup title

FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique – Elson Hooi scored two goals and Curacao captured its first-ever Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup title with 2-1 win over defending champion Jamaica in the 2016/17 final on Sunday night at the Stade Pierre-Aliker.

Curacao became just the sixth different nation to lift the trophy in the 18 times one was on offer.

CONCACAF.com takes a look at the action:

2017 SCOTIABANK CFU MEN’S CARIBBEAN CUP

June 25, 2017: Stade Pierre-Aliker – Fort-de-France, Martinique (Att: 5,200) Jamaica-Curacao 1-2 (0-1) Rosario Harriott 82’ / Elson Hooi 10’, 84’ Curacao wins 2016/17 Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup title

Jamaica: Dwayne Miller; Damion Lowe, Oniel Fisher, Sergio Campbell, Shaun Francis (Rosario Harriott 82’), Ewan Grandison, Michael Binns, Jermaine Johnson (Ricardo Morris 61’), Kevon Lambert, Cory Burke (Shamar Nicholson 72’), Owayne Gordon. Head Coach: Theodore Whitmore (suspended, replaced by Jerome Waite)

Curacao: Eloy Room; Dustley Mulder, Rhu-endly “Cuco” Martina, Darryl Lachman, Gillian Justiana, Quentin Jakoba, Leandro Bacuna, Jarchino Antonia (Gino van Kessel 74’), Elson Hooi (Doriano Kortstam (0’+2), Gevaro Nepomuceno, Rangelo Janga. Head Coach: Remko Bicentini

R: Michel Rodriguez (Cuba); AR1: Raidel Toledo (Cuba); AR2: Eugene Farro (Aruba)); 4th: Ricangel De Leca (Aruba)

-    Elson Hooi gave Curacao a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute, when his slowly rolling, right-footed shot from the top of the 18-yard box managed to elude for Jamaican defenders stationed in close proximity, as well as goalkeeper Dwayne Miller. -    Jamaica equalized in the 82nd minute as substitute Rosario Harriott swooped in at the left post after Shamar Nicholson’s downward header took a strange bounce off Michael Binns’ initial free kick. -    Two minutes later, Hooi netted the game-winner, slotting in with his right foot from 11-yards out.  Gino van Kessel assisted on the goal, navigating to the right-end line, before feeding Hooi. -    Six-time champion Jamaica made its ninth appearance in the Caribbean Cup final. -    Curacao made its first appearance in the Caribbean Cup final. -    Jamaica completed 2016/17 Caribbean Cup play with an overall record of 2W-1D-1L (7GF, 5 GA). -    Jamaica scored at least one goal in each of its four 2016/17 Caribbean Cup games. -    Curacao completed 2016/17 Caribbean Cup play with an overall record of 7W-0D-1L (25GF, 8 GA). -    Curacao teammates Gino van Kessel and Feliticiano Zschusschen finished as the 2016/17 Caribbean Cup’s joint-top scorers with seven goals each. -    Six different players scored for Curacao in the 2016/17 Caribbean Cup, each netting at least two goals. -    Both Curacao and Jamaica will compete in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

SCOTIABANK CFU MEN’S CARIBBEAN CUP
List of Champions

1989: Trinidad & Tobago 1990: tournament not completed 1991: Jamaica 1992: Trinidad & Tobago 1993: Martinique 1994: Trinidad & Tobago 1995: Trinidad & Tobago 1996: Trinidad & Tobago 1997: Trinidad & Tobago 1998: Jamaica 1999: Trinidad & Tobago 2001: Trinidad & Tobago 2005: Jamaica 2007: Haiti 2008: Jamaica 2010: Jamaica 2012: Cuba 2014: Jamaica 2016/17: Curacao