Jamaica, on Tuesday, avenged their 2006 loss to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Digicel Cup, by routing them 5-1 at the National Stadium in Kingston in front of a fair sized crowd.

In was the ninth meeting between the teams, and the Boyz improved their record against the Vincentians to seven wins, one draw and a loss.

Led by two goals from Marlon King, the Reggae Boyz dominated play from start to finish and stamped their superiority with a satisfying performance. 

Technical Director Rene Simoes, in a post match interview, seemed satisfied but said “there’s a long way to go.”

Jamaica opened the scoring in the 17th minute as Demar Phillips received a pass from Rudolph Austin on the right and, from the top of the box, drove a wonderful shot past the Vincentian goalkeeper, Melvin Andrews.

In the 26th minute, captain Ricardo Gardener got a pinpoint pass from Andy Williams and proceeded on a darting run through the Vincentian defence but was brought down in the 18-yard box.  A penalty was awarded and King stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way as he coolly hit the ball in the right of the goal.

King, the Wigan Athletic marksman, continued to be a handful for the visitors and, in the 41st minute, received a cross from Ricardo Fuller and hit a sweet volley from inside the box past the outstretched keeper.  He then went inches from scoring a hat trick but, under pressure from the Vincentian defence, he slid Fuller's cross from a penetrating dribble just wide of Andrews’ right goalpost.

Jamaica went into the half leading 3-0.

The visitors started the half with more purpose and the Jamaicans, it seemed, were back to their old ways of losing intensity after securing a dominant position.

This resulted in a goal for the Vincentians as, in the 55th minute, Marlon James rose between two defenders and powerfully headed a cross past a diving Donovan Ricketts.

Andy Williams, in his first game back since the 2005 Gold Cup, had a chance to respond almost immediately but blasted over the cross bar from 6 yards out.

1998 World Cup hero Dion Burton, who came on to replace King in the 72nd minute, almost silenced his critics with his first touch when he fired a powerful shot from six yards out that forced a save from Andrews.  Burton’s return to the team couldn’t have been better scripted as his second touch was even more telling.  In the 73rd minute, Goodison rose high in the box to head a corner kick down to Burton who chested the ball over the line.

Burton was also received an assist for the 5th goal in the 88th minute when he dribbled down the right and crossed the ball for Gardner slotted home in an open net.

The Reggae Boyz leave for Trinidad and Grenada tomorrow for two more friendly engagements.