Match preview: Peru vs. Jamaica

Game: Peru vs. Jamaica

Date: Tuesday, June 13th

Time: 8:30 PM Eastern Time (United States and Canada), 7:30 PM Central Time (United States and Canada), 7:30 PM Local time in Jamaica and Peru, 5:30 PM Pacific Time (United States and Canada)

Venue: Estadio Monumental de la UNSA (Arequipa, Peru)

Television: The match is only being broadcast by Peruvian Canal Movistar Deportes and TVJSN in Jamaica.

Streaming: None

Jamaica heads to the mountains of Peru to play in their only friendly of this international window, taking on the 15th ranked Peruvians in Arequipa – at an altitude of around 7,600 feet (2,300 meters). The Reggae Boyz are using this as a tune up as they head into both the Caribbean Cup and the Gold Cup. Peru on the other hand has no upcoming matches until their World Cup Qualifiers against Bolivia and Ecuador at the end of August and beginning of September respectively.

Jamaica will have their work cut out for them against a formidable opponent in a hostile environment. Peru lists a decent mixture of players who play professionally in Peru and players who play in Brazil, Liga MX, and Europe. Captain Paolo Guerrero is perhaps the most familiar name on the roster, as the forward spent the early part of his career with Bayern Munich and Hamburger SV in Germany. Andre Carillo plays with Benfica in Portugal’s Primeira Division, while goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and full back Luis Advincula were standouts for Liga MX sides Veracruz and Tigres respectively (Advincula will join fellow National Teamer Pedro Aquino at the newly promoted Lobos BUAP in the 2017 Apertura). Surprisingly, Liga MX’s leading goalscorer Raul Ruidiaz was not called to play in this friendly, although he did play in the last World Cup Qualifier – a 2-1 win over Uruguay in March.

The Reggae Boyz are going with a bit different look than they usually do. Gone are guys like Clayton Donaldson, Jobi McAnuff, Adrian Mariappa, and Wes Morgan – older guys who play in England. In their place are a lot of younger guys who play in the United States and Jamaica. Young, relatively inexperienced guys like the Seattle Sounders’ Oneil Fisher, Bethlehem Steel FC’s Cory Burke, and Atlanta United’s Romario Williams will be playing alongside stalwarts such as the Philadelphia Union’s Andre Blake and the Portland Timbers’ Alvas Powell to give head coach Theodore Whitmore a good look at the next generation of players. The younger guys – especially those playing domestically in Jamaica – will also have a chance to cut their teeth in the upcoming Caribbean Cup. That roster will have some new faces in it as well, with the only MLS players on that roster being Fisher and Shaun Francis of the San Jose Earthquakes.