Portland Timbers defender Alvas Powell started and played 82 minutes last night in Jamaica's 1-1 draw against Martinique in the Reggae Boyz opening match of the 2014 Caribbean Cup in Montego Bay. The match featured a host of MLS players including Vancouver Whitecaps forward Darren Mattocks--who scored in the 13th minute--Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake, FC Dallas' Je-Vaughn Watson, Colorado Rapids forward Deshorn Brown and others.
The draw puts Jamaica in a tie on points with the rest of the teams in Group B--Martinique, Antigua & Barbados, and Haiti--with their next match scheduled for Friday against the Benna Boys of Antigua and Barbados (5pm PT).
Also on Friday, Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and the All Whites of New Zealand will be in action against China in Nanchang for an international friendly (3:35am PT). Fresh from helping lead Sacramento Republic to the 2014 USL PRO championship while on loan, Gleeson will be aiming for his seventh cap with New Zealand.
Looking for more soccer this Friday? The USMNT have a lunchtime tilt scheduled Friday as well when they play a friendly against Colombia at Craven Cottage in London on ESPN at 11:45am PT. Timbers fans may notice a familiar name on the back of one of the Colombians as Diego Chara's younger brother, Yimmi, has been called up for the match for Los Cafeteros.
