Arnett Gardens U20 players (pictured) gather for a photo after a win over the visiting USA U17 national team on November 4, 2016, in Kingston, Jamaica.
KINGSTON, Jamaica – After a late goal gave his side a 1-0 win over the United States under-17 national team, Arnett Gardens under-20 head coach Jerome Waite expressed his satisfaction with what he had seen Friday at Jamaica College.
It was the second of three games in Jamaica for the U.S., which topped its counterparts from the host nation on Wednesday, 3-0.
"It was a spirited performance from both teams,” he said. “I had seen them in the game against Jamaica under-17s and identified their strengths and weaknesses. We created numerous chances and could have won by a wider margin. It was a good game.”
Defender Lemmar Stewart struck for the only goal in the 89th minute.
“The surface affected our style of play,” commented U.S. head coach John Hackworth, who appreciated the opportunity to pit his youngsters against an older squad. “However, we are not looking at performance, but working on plays and tactics.
“It is really important for us as they are 16 year-olds playing against older players. We had two good looks in each half. They had a soft goal from a corner kick, but it’s a learning experience for us moving forward.”
The U.S. concludes its brief trip to the Caribbean with a second meeting the Jamaica U17s on Sunday at Winchester Park. Both squads are preparing for the next CONCACAF Under-17 Championship, which will be contested in Panama from April 21-May 7, 2017.
