BACOLET, Tobago – Alonzo Adlam scored in the 56th minute and led a nine-man Jamaica to a 2-1 victory over El Salvador on Sunday (March 8), reviving the Caribbean island’s hopes at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship.
The United States edged closer to the semifinals, overcoming the expulsion of William Schuler in the 62nd minute and a 10-minute suspension of play due to a flood-light failure to draw 0-0 with Honduras.
The Young Boyz played the entire second half with a man disadvantage after defender Andre Darby was ejected in the 37th minute and striker Dever Orgill followed seven minutes later, both for swinging elbows while trying to shield the ball. El Salvador also had a man ejected, defender Nelson Ismael in the 33rd for a high boot.
The results left the United States atop Group A with four points, one ahead of Jamaica, which the Americans 3-0 on Friday. Honduras was third with two points, one ahead of El Salvador. Jamaica will face Honduras on Tuesday while El Salvador will take on the United States in the group finales.
Two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals and earn berths in the U-20 World Cup in Egypt September 24-October 16.
Romario Campbell gave Jamaica the lead in the eighth minute, but the advantage lasted only three minutes until Herbert Arnoldo equalized in the 11th.
The red card to Orgill could be significant to Jamaica’s hopes. Orgill scored six goals during qualifying and shared the team lead along with Adlam.
The match was only the second between the two teams in CONCACAF play and first since 1970, a 0-0 draw in Cuba. El Salvador won the only other meeting, 3-0 in 1964.
The United States could have clinched a seventh straight trip to the U-20 World Cup with a victory, extending its CONCACAF record. The match was the eighth meeting at the U-20 level between the USA and Honduras.
Honduras has won half of the encounters, while the United States has been victorious just once.
