Miami, Jun 11: Demar Phillips scored two goals in 13 minutes of the second half to lift Jamaica to a 2-0 win over Guatemala and into the Gold Cup quarterfinals from Group B on Friday.
Phillips opened the scoring in the 65th minute when he gathered a Keammar Daley pass, dribbled toward the left side of the area, eluded defender Jonathan Lopez and beat goalkeeper Ricard Jerez with a shot that landed just inside the right post.
Jamaica clinched its second victory of the tournament when midfielder Philips, who plays for Norwegian club Aalesunds FK, scored his second goal in the 78th minute. Dane Richards dribbled toward the Guatemalan area and centered a pass to an unmarked Phillips near the box. Guatemala played the final 20 minutes a man down after Cristian Noriega was shown his second yellow card.
The victory assured Jamaica a berth in the final eight -- five points clear in the group lead with one game to play. Phillips' goals punctuated Jamaica's strong attacking play in the second half. Jamaica nearly broke through with two scoring opportunities in the first 5 minutes after the break. Luton Shelton dribbled from midfield into the Guatemela penalty area, where Jerez deflected a powerful shot in the 47th minute. Jerez was tested again 3 minutes later when he stopped Richards' attempt.
Guatemala had its best scoring opportunities late in the first half and Jamaica keeper Donovan Ricketts stopped a Carlos Ruiz shot in the 40th minute. Ruiz found an opening in the 42nd minute but his strike went about wide of the right post. The match's first 10 minutes was an ill-tempered affair and Jamaican defender Dicoy Williams limped off the field with an injured right leg in the sixth minute and didn't return.
Honduras and Grenada play their second group match later Friday. The third and final Group B matches will be played Monday when Jamaica will faces Honduras and Guatemala meets Grenada. AP
