Going into the game with 15 players and without several of its more household names particularly with the last minute absence of Sunderland duo Kenwyne Jones, Carlos Edwards and Toronto FC’s Collin Samuel, the “Soca Warriors” earned a well deserved draw with the Rene Simoes-coached “Reggae Boyz”.

Jamaica surged into what appeared to be a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break with first half goals by Marlon King and Tyrone Marshall. And those two goals came just when Whitley’s men began to settle and look the better of the two teams.

The hosts had the first try at goal on six minutes when Luton Shelton headed over bar following Omar Daley’s lay over.

T&T had a first half goal disallowed before Jamaica got their opener from King in the 34th minute and then Marshall six minutes later.

But T&T hit back in the second half. Aside from a Keon Daniel free kick which went just over bar and then a free hit which Khaleem Hyland blasted wide, T&T produced a spirited performance. Substitute Osei Telesford, coming on to play a defensive midfielder position ran on to a ball from Darryl Roberts and fired home with his right foot. Then Whitley tied the scores with a well taken effort which took a deflection of Keyeno Thomas and flew into the net to send the T&T contingent into a frenzy.

The day before Dancehall star Beenie Man passed through the Pegasus Hotel to wish the Soca Warriors well and then he later performed on the pitch during the half time show put on by Digicel which saw the flood lights come off forcing the substitutes to warm up in dim lighting.  The night before the “Trinis” also graced Kingston with Black Stalin, Crazy and Skiffle Bunch Pan side performing at an event across from the Pegasus.

But after the 90 minutes on Wednesday it was the 200 or so flag waving T&T fans who kept on going as the home fans trickled out of the venue

T&T thought they had the lead in the 14th minute when a right side incoming free kick from Keon Daniel caused all sorts of problems before Makan Hislop bundled the ball into the goal after Keyeno Thomas’s effort was blocked by goalie Donovan Ricketts. But the linesman ruled offside.

Jamaica were in full stride as the half progressed with Demark Phillips and the quick running Omar Daley at the heart of their attacks.

King the put the hosts ahead when he picked up a ball on the left of the box from Phillips and turned neatly to fire into the far right corner past Jan Michael Williams.

Then before T&T could resettle Marshall doubled the advantage when he moved past two defenders to slot home from deep inside the box. Moments earlier the same Marshall had a goal ruled offside.

T&T picked up its game in the second half and persistence paid off.

Hyland caused some problems with neat ball movement, turning two men at one time which brought reaction from the crowd. He would later miss a glorious chance to grab the equalizer when he blasted wide from inside the box two minutes from the end. Prior to that Daniel also curled a free kick inches over. Substitute Deon Burton also went close on a couple occasions but his direction was off.

After Telesford pulled one back, T&T kept the pressure up and maintained possession as the minutes ticked. Whitley then stun the hosts and sparked wild celebrations among the T&T contingent when he moved inwards and blasted a left footed strike which took a deflection and flew into the net to leave it at two apiece