Boyz earn valuable away point

The Reggae Boyz put their first point on the board in Concacaf’s final round of World Cup qualifying for Qatar 2022 when they battled Costa Rica in an exciting 1-1 draw at the National Stadium in Costa Rica last night.

Shamar Nicholson scored for Jamaica with an equalising goal at the 47th minute, while Jimmy Marin scored for Costa Rica at the fourth minute.

After three rounds, Jamaica have one point and Costa Rica two. Mexico lead the standings with seven points after rallying to tie 1-1 with hosts Panama, now on five points. Canada moved to five also following a 3-0 hammering of El Salvador, on two points. Honduras led the United States 1-0 at press time.

For the second consecutive game, Jamaica made eight changes to its starting team. This time, the alternative players were forced into action, with a high percentage of the British cast back in the United Kingdom.

Fielding players more familiar with each other, and more familiar playing with each other, there was clear improvement for Jamaica as they played their best match yet in this eight-nation series with Tyreek Magee, Devon Williams, and Junior Flemmings, especially, bringing life with pace, skill, and movement to its once dysfunctional midfield.

Both teams suffered napping defences to score early in either half.

Magee fed a pass wide to full back Kemar Lawrence, who was always offering width and depth offensively with his attacking play. The defender surveyed the box and measured an inch-perfect pass to Nicholson, who scored with the ball hitting flush off his left shoulder and lobbing beyond reach of world-class goalie Keylor Navas.

EARLY PRESSURE

But it was Costa Rica who applied the early pressure and sprinted into the lead at the fourth minute when Marin scored.

Jamaica’s defence was caught out of place and forced to run about wildly, in sixes and sevens really, on that goal-making play. It started on the right flank with a grounded cross. The ball skidded past several players at goalmouth and ended up on the left side of the penalty box at the feet of Bryan Ruiz.

He curled a cross to the back post and unmarked Jonathan Moya headed to another unattended teammate, Marin, who stooped to head into goal from two yards.

However, the Reggae Boyz made a bold response.

The 2-1 defeat at Mexico was pure fight, not much ball play but for about 20 minutes in the second half. Panama’s match was lacking in spirit, creativity and all-round play, aptly mirrored by the 3-0 scoreline.

Last night, the team not only showed guts, but they pressed the opponent and played like a man to a man, confident and unafraid to match Costa Rica toe-to-toe, and even better with the goal-making plays, only to suffer from poor finishes.

Nicholson, besides scoring, had chances within six yards and was unmarked all night. He certainly should have put Jamaica ahead near the hour mark and twice inside the final four minutes.

Nicholson also turned provider for substitute Javon East at the 87th minute, but the latter, whm was shown to be offside by the replays, did not get good connection on the ball, which hit off his body really and squeezed to Navas.

Costa Rica were led by Campbell, Ruiz, and the very dangerous Marin, who kept finding open positions to shoot inside the box. Besides scoring, he cut inside Alvas Powell and curled a shot inches over the far post at the 36th before forcing goalkeeper Andre Blake into a save a minute before the interval.

In total, both teams had seven shots on target in the first half, but Costa Rica displayed more accuracy in getting four on target. By the end of the game, Costa Rica had 13 with six on target and Jamaica 11, with two on goal.

However, Jamaica, had the best chances to score and will now turn their attention to their next fixture away against the United States on Thursday, October 7.

audley.boyd@gleanerjm.com

Teams:

Jamaica - Andre Blake (GK), Alvas Powell, Anthony Grant (Je-Vaughn Watson, 85th), Cory Burke (Blair Turgott, 69th), Junior Flemmings (Javon East, 68th), Damion Lowe, Adrian Mariappa, Kemar Lawrence, Tyreek Magee (Lamar Walker, 64th), Devon Williams, Shamar Nicholson (Romario Williams, 92nd).

Costa Rica - Keylor Navas (GK), Francisco Calvo (Jurguens Montenegro, 91st), Bryan Oviedo (Kendall Waston, 91st), Oscar Duarte, Ricardo Blanco, Celso Borges (David Guzman, 82nd), Jimmy Marin (Randall Leal, 75th), Joel Campbell, Bryan Ruiz, Jefferson Brenes (Ronald Matarrita, 82nd), Jonathan Moya.