Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer
Jamaica's Jamal Campbell-Ryce (right) dribbles away from Costa Rica's Jervis Drummond in their international friendly football match at the National Stadium last night.
TYRONE 'Granny' Marshall tore in like a locomotive at the backpost to power a header past Costa Rica's Ricardo Gonzalez, levelling their friendly international 1-1 in stoppage time at the National Stadium last night.
The Boyz almost paid the price of not putting away Costa Rica off earlier chances and went behind 1-0 in the 80th minute off a sharp chance scored by substitute Victor Nunez, who had replaced another substitute, Oscar Rojas, in the 67th.
Jamaica peppered Costa Rica's goal with shots in either half but found the stubborn Central Americans' goalkeeper too tough to beat.
Hunting their first win at The Office under the second tenure of Brazilian coach Rene Simoes, Jamaica had Costa Rica under constant pressure from the opening whistle and appeared to go ahead in the 31st minute when Demar Phillips' spectacular bicycle kick cannoned off the upright and rebounded into play.
Phillips attempt was the first shot on target for the Boyz after defender Ian Goodison headed over the bar in the second minute, followed by high shots from Ricardo Fuller in the 18th and Marlon King a minute later.
Came out strong
The first half ended with Jamaica in charge and the Boyz came out strong after the break with Phillips forcing Gonzalez into a sharp save, parrying the midfielder's 50th-minute shot for a corner.
Gonzalez was also equal to Rudolph Austin's 36-yard pile-driver six minutes later, again pushing for a corner.
King got a glorious chance to put Jamaica ahead in the 64th but his goalmouth effort was too weak as he tried to place the ball around Gonzalez.
Costa Rican coach Hernan Medford's double substitution brought on Nunez, who surprisingly outhustled two of the Boyz's biggest defenders, Ian Goodison and Damion Stewart, just outside the right side of the box and hit a low shot under Ricketts rushing off his line.
An eerie hush descended over the National Stadium as the Costa Ricans celebrated their unexpected goal 10 minutes from time.
With the clock ticking away, the Boyz appeared headed for defeat as the Costa Ricans threw everything into defence with at least nine men behind the ball.
However, with the fourth referee indicating five minutes of time-added the Boyz needed just two minutes to respond.
Peach of a game
Costa Rica's Alvaro Sobiro outjumps everyone for a header on goal during his team's international friendly against Jamaica at the National Stadium last night. The game ended 1-1. - ian allen photos
Captain Ricardo Gardner sent a short corner on the right side to King, whose perfectly weighted cross kept Gonzalez glued to his line.
Marshall, who had a peach of a game at right back all evening, fell out of the sky, racing in at the far edge of the six-yard box to meet King's square with a firm header, which sent the stadium into pandemonium.
Jamaica's domineering show was a good start for the Boyz, who will open their 2010 World cup qualifiers in June.
Costa Rica were playing to their second consecutive draw after being held 0-0 by Iran on January 30, a team which had beaten Jamaica 8-0 under previous coach Bora Milutinovic.
Do
you have a problem? Is something bothering
you? Write to