Jamaica showed well against Uruguay in their Copa América opener on Saturday, but the Reggae Boyz couldn’t quite pull off a result, falling to the defending champions 1-0 in Antofagasta, Chile.
Houston Dynamo forward Giles Barnes, Vancouver Whitecaps attacker Darren Mattocks and New York Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence started for Jamaica, with Barnes and Lawrence going the full 90 and Mattocks coming off in the 75th minute for former Colorado Rapids striker Deshorn Brown.
Jamaica controlled large stretches of the game, taking the match to a talented Uruguay side led by Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani. Barnes and Mattocks were particularly active in the first half, with Mattocks getting a good look at goal in the 40th.
Jamaica were undone in the 52nd minute, when Cristian Rodriguez scored the game’s lone goal. The veteran winger latched on to a bouncing set piece in the box and slotted home into the bottom-right corner from close-range.
Barnes had a good chance in the 61st minute, collecting a poor clearance deep in Uruguay’s half and nearly catching goalkeeper Fernando Muslera off his line with a 25-yard effort that flashed just wide. The Dynamo striker had another opportunity in the 76th, heading a Lance Laing cross past Muslera, but just wide of the far post.
Lawrence tested Muslera in the 85th minute, firing a 20-yard free kick on frame that the ‘keeper tipped over the bar after Barnes was fouled just outside the area.
The loss puts Jamaica in last place in Group B at Copa América. The Reggae Boyz will return to action on Tuesday, when they’ll face Paraguay in Antofagasta.
