The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Steven Caulker wished he had not made that one step ahead of the defender. He wished the officials had not called the offside on him after he booted in the lone goal that would have given Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 victory over Jamaica’s “Reggae Boyz.”

Instead, the two visiting teams ended up in a 0-0 draw at the end of the historic exhibition soccer match that was played before an estimated 8,000 fans at the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on Thursday night.

Unlike the inaugural Pure Silk-LPGA Classic that has been watered down to a limited hole event at the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise

Island, the soccer match was unaffected by the downpour of rain over the last few days that played havoc in the city. Only small patches of

water could be seen settled on the track at the stadium.

“It was the end of our season, so it was a slow tempo for us,” Caulker said. “We were committed and we ended up tied with them. I think they played good against us. I think they had a younger side and they played good against us.”

On his goal that was eventually called back for an offside, Caulker noted: “I’m not sure if it was offside. I haven’t seen the replay, but I’m sure that it was good. It would have been for us to win.”

Both teams - Tottenham, who came into the game after finishing fifth place in the Premier League in England on Sunday and Jamaica, who is gearing up for their two World Cup qualifying matches next month in Kingston - didn’t play all of their best players.

Tottenham, for instance, didn’t bring in their league leading scorer Gareth Bale until the second half. And although the Welshman, who scored the lone goal in their 1-0 win in their final regular season match on Sunday, didn’t score, he came close on a few instances.

Head coach Andre Villas-Boas admitted that they didn’t get to see Jamaica’s best as they preserved them for the qualifiers. But he noted that they went out and gave a good show for the crowd.

“It was a good game. Obviously, it’s the end of the season and we’re almost in vacation mode, so we just went out there and played. We didn’t underestimate them. We are preparing for the off-season, so we just played the game.”

While some of the players on the team are looking forward to competing for their respective countries in upcoming World Cup qualifiers, Villas Boas said the rest will begin their vacation before they start preparing for the new season in July.

“We’re always preparing the team for a better season,” said Villas-Boas, whose team fell short of advancing to the Champions League despite winning their final game. “Of course we will be making some adjustment to get the team better.”

As for the Jamaicans, Evan Taylor said they knew that Tottenham is a good team and so they had to be at their best defensively.

“It was a pretty good game and we gave a good account of ourselves,” Taylor said. “We had our chances to win, but football is a sport. Anything is possible in a game.”

Taylor said their goal now is get ready for the qualifier, but they will take it one game at a time, starting with Mexico before they take on the United States.

“We have some more work to do, but we’re just going to concentrate on Mexico first,” he said.

From start to finish, the fans were treated to an exciting showdown between the two teams.

In fact, both had numerous opportunities to score, but they failed to cash in.

First half

Tottenham’s Kyle Naughton had the first crack at scoring when he beat the field down to the left of the Jamaican goalie, but Jamaica’s Damian Williams came up with a block.

Moments later, Naughton got another solo break on the same side, but his attempt at the goal clipped the top of the goal post.

Jamaica’s Xavian Virgo then got in some fancy footwork as they had their first chance to score, but was caught by the Tottenham’s defense.

After controlling the ball for most of the period, Naughton got a pass through the Jamaican defense, but Kyle Walker was not there in time to retrieve the attempted goal.

Jamaica’s Jermie Lynch blew a couple of chances, including a shot when he collided with Tottenham’s goalie Brad Friedel.

Before the end of the break, Jamaica got the first penalty kick, but Jermaine Hue’s attempt went over the goal post.

Second half

Tottenham, like they did in the first half, had the first chance to score a couple of times as they picked up their intensity. They eventually brought in Bale as a couple of substitutions were made by both teams, including goalie Hugo Lloris replaced Friedel.

When introduced, Bale received a rousing applause from the audience and eventually got the ball just past the halfcourt line and drove past his defenders to the baseline and attempted his try at the goal, but it was blocked.

Bale got another impressive move, taking his defender to the baseline, cris-crossed the ball and attempted another goal that was picked up by the Jamaican goalie.

Bale got a chance for another goal attempt that was blocked by the goalie, but No.33 was there to retrieve it right in front of the line and he scored, but it was called back for

offside.

Jamaica’s Jermaine Johnson had his chance at goal as he broke away from his defender, but it was saved by the goalie. The game ended with two players from both teams clashing near midfield.

There was no shootout or extra time period for the exhibition match that was played as a part of the Bahamas’ 40th Independence anniversary. It

was a fitting tribute that the match ended in a draw.

Throughout the night, the two teams and the fans were entertained by the rhythmic sounds of junkanoo that echoed from the eastern stand by

the Albany One Family group wearing their gold shirts as a symbol of the celebrations.