Jamaica 0 Venezuela 1: Torino striker Josef Martinez struck early winner
Premier League champion Wes Morgan was scheduled to sit out the match after month-long party but was a first-half sub
LEICESTER star Wes Morgan suffered a serious hangover in Jamaica’s Copa America defeat against Venezuela.
The Premier League champion was left out of the starting XI for Sunday night’s match after a month of partying, with an easy night expected against the South American side.
However, the Reggae Boyz went a goal down after 15 minutes and a man down eight minutes later before the Foxes hero was sent on to try and rescue his side. But it was too late.
Even with their main man on the bench, Jamaica took control almost instantly when Birmingham striker Clayton Donaldson went close.
The former Brentford man collected a Giles Barnes flick-on before thinking he was hacked down for a penalty but replays proved the linesman’s flagged that was raised for his offside was correct.
Moments later the two sets of fans joined voice to cheer as one after a cameraman who appeared to be knocked out by a stray ball managed to stumble to his feet and return his baseball cap to his sore head
On nine minutes the cheers were less sympathetic. Josef Martinez burst down the wing and volleyed in a cross that Jermaine Taylor bravely blocked with his most delicate body part before collapsing in a heap.
Jamaica kept up the pressure when Donaldson again collected a Barnes flick-on from a huge goal-kick and volleyed straight at Venezuela keeper Dani Hernandez, who tipped over for a corner that Je-Vaughn Watson then headed against the bar.
Venezuela were playing the better looking football but Jamaica were creating better chances with raw pace and a direct style.
The purists got their rewards on 16 minutes. Clever one-touch build-up play released Torino forward Martinez who swept a controlled left-foot shot through the legs of Andre Blake in the Jamaica goal.
The forward managed just three Serie A goals last season in 21 appearances but they all came in April and he carried his finishing form into the summer.
And Jamaica’s faint hopes of a fightback were dashed on 23 minutes when red-faced Rodolph Austin was sent off for a wild challenge.
The Brondby man appeared to win the ball but he was judged to have used excessive force in his follow-through as his studs crashed into the standing leg of Genoa’s Tomas Rincon.
With a numerical advantage Venezuela smelt blood and on 29 minutes they had another promising attack down the right.
Rincon’s solo magic carved open the chance with quick feet and a shot that forced Blake to deny the exciting midfielder with a save to his left.
Austin’s reckless red eventually led to Jamaica having to shuffle their pack and the crowd roared when they finally made their change with Morgan sent on
But Jamaica’s odds of turning the result around grew even longer during the break when 66-year-old German coach Winfried Schafer was sent off and banned from the dugout, presumably for venting his rage over the harsh red card at referee Victor Carrillo.
On 70 minutes Venezuela defender Wilker Angel looked to have sealed the match with the second goal.
The full-back headed a corner goalwards but Philadelphia Union ‘keeper Blake pulled off a world-class save to get down to the ball and push it up and off the crossbar.
Then Jamaica went up the other end and missed a sitter when a long throw fell inviting for Watson who leant back on his half-volley and skied the ball into the crowd.
And Venezuela bravely held on to claim three points leaving Morgan and Co nursing bruised egos after their opening game disaster.