Portland Timbers defender Alvas Powell and the Jamaica National Team captured the 2014 Caribbean Cup in Montego Bay last night besting Trinidad & Tobago 4-3 in penalty kicks following a scoreless draw through regulation and extra time.
Powell started each of the four games of the tournament for the Reggae Boyz and was part of an excellent defensive unit that conceded only one goal on their run to the final. He was one of six Jamaica team members to make the tournament Best XI list along with fellow MLS players Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake, Houston Dynamo defender Jermaine Taylor and Vancouver Whitecaps forward Darren Mattocks. It was Jamaica's sixth ever Caribbean Cup title.
The tournament and championship win also qualified Jamaica for a number of upcoming international events including the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2015 Copa America, and 2016 Copa America Centenario.
Elsewhere around the globe, Timbers goalkeeper
Jake Gleeson
received the start for
New Zealand in their 2-0 upset loss to Thailand in Bangkok
. Fielding a young lineup, the All Whites were down 1-0 when an apparent equalizer was called back for being offside--a harsh call upon replay.
It was the final match for New Zealand in 2014 as they will begin their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign next year.
“What we do know is we have a really good group of players," said New Zealand head coach Anthony Hudson after the match. "A lot of the group lacks experience but we have to quickly learn and step up to the plate. We will deal with it and we will get it right.”
