Jamaica Routed in Costa Rica World Cup Qualifier
Reggae Boyz’ 2018 Russia bid in tatters after disastrous defeat
Jamaica’s dreams of reaching the 2018 World Cup finals were dealt a major blow after they were beaten 3-0 by Costa Rica on Tuesday.
The Reggae Boyz were outrageously swept aside in style by free flowing play from Le Sele, Winfried Schàfer’s side lacking any belief in their own abilities. Celso Borges broke the deadlock after six minutes, Bryan Ruíz doubled the lead half-an-hour later and Johan Venegas sealed success with 13 minutes remaining.
What a stark contrast by both sides to their respective performances in their meeting at Kingston’s National Stadium on Good Friday when the visitors were lacklustre and Jamaica should have collected maximum points. But Costa Rica dominated throughout their comfortable triumph at the sold-out National Stadium in San Jose.
With Jamaica’s squad primarily full of players plying their trade in North America’s MLS, it is obvious that the superiority of the hosts is down to many of their squad honing their skills at top European sides.
Le Sele ripped into Jamaica from kick-off, and broke the deadlock on their third goalscoring opportunity when midfielder Celso Borges headed past Andre Blake.
Jamaica were left in awe by the silky skills from the hosts, with the influential trio of Bourges, Ruiz and Arsenal strikes Joel Campbell pushing the ball around at will to carve open the Boyz.
And skipper Ruiz killed off any hopes for a Jamaica comeback on 36 minutes, slotting home following a deflected miss from forward Marco Urena.
Jamaica froze in South America with poor passing, their speed halted by Le Sele’s tactical 3-4-3 formation and worse of all, the Boyz lacked any sense of urgency apart from defenders Adrian Mariappa and Wes Morgan.
After the turnaround the Boyz showed more grit and determination, desperately seeking to reduce the deficit.
But the hosts, quarter-finalists at the previous World Cup, have only conceded three goals from their past six games.
With the Boyz pressing for a much-needed goal, Darren Mattocks replaced Lee Williamson for the second half as the policy of lobbed long balls from just wasn’t working.
As Jamaica went for the kill, their all-out attacks of trying to outmuscle the defenders simply resulted in making them vulnerable to endless counterattacks only for busy keeper Blake to keep the hosts at bay.
Yet there was nothing that the Philadelphia Union showstopper could do to prevent Venegas from scoring. Blake parried the midfielder’s initial straight back to Venegas, who coolly tucked the ball inside the far post.
At the other end of the pitch Real Madrid’s Keylor Navas was always in his comfortable zone, marshalling his defence well and dealing with any rare danger from the Boyz.
While Costa Rica coach Oscar Ramirez will be happy to sitting top of their Group B CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign, Jamaica head coach Schäfer will be feeling the pressure as his Boyz are on the cusp of bowing out of their 2018 Russia campaign.
Panama picked up maximum points with a tense 1-0 victory over Haiti on Tuesday courtesy of a late header from defender Felipe Baloy, which gives them a three-point cushion over Jamaica in the four-year table.
The Boyz tackle Panama in Panama City on 2 September, with anything other than bagging three points likely to end their dreams of reaching the World Cup final.
Jamaica complete their Group B campaign with basement side Haiti, who cannot progress to the next stage when six teams battle it out, at Kingston on 6 September and will need a big win to claw back their inferior goal difference to Panama after the dire 3-0 reversal against Costa Rica.
But by the time the Boyz face near neighbours Haiti at the National Stadium their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup could be over. And if Jamaica fail to reach the final stage of their Road to Russia campaign then there will be serious question marks about retaining Schäfer – whose salary is subsidised by Brazilian businesses. His uninspired long-term tactics of producing a barrage of long balls and relying on counterattacks as well as the athleticism of players has been criticised by fans and the media alike.
Yet football is a results orientated sport, and without positive results then Jamaica’s place in the 2018 World Cup finals are impossible.
Jamaica: Blake; Mariappa, Phillips (Taylor 46), Powell, Morgan; Lawrence, Hector; McAnuff, Watson, Williamson (Mattocks); Donaldson. Subs: Thompson, Harris, Dawkins, Vanzie, Marsh, Orgill, Ottey, Clennon
Download The Jamaican Blogs™ App for your Android device: HERE
Remember to share this article on Facebook and other Social Media Platforms. To submit your own articles or to advertise with us please send us an EMAIL at: [email protected]