Nicholson At The Double As Reggae Boyz Hit Six
Bailey breaks duck in Antigua & Barbuda rout
Shamar Nicholson bagged a brace with Bundesliga ace Leon Bailey notching his first goal for Jamaica in their 6-0 thrashing of Antigua & Barbuda on Friday (6 Sept).
British-based striker Bobby Reid netted on his debut, with substitutes Brian Brown and Peter-Lee Vassell also on target at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall.
The Reggae Boyz were overwhelming favourites to collect maximum CONCACAF Nations League Group B points, and Belgium-based hot-shot Nicholson continued his recent scoring exploits to break the deadlock after nine minutes.
The Royal Charleroi Sporting Club striker raced onto a flicked header, held off the close marking by a defender before cooly slotting home.
Yet it was surprising that it took until the 31st minute for the Boyz to double their advantage. Bailey set up Fulham’s Reid who easily polished off the slick move and kick-start the hosts running rings around the Benna Boyz.
Nicholson, who came through the ranks at Boys’ Town in the Jamaica Red Stripe Premier League before plying his trade with Slovenian club NZ Domžale prior to a recent move to Belgium, added to his tally six minutes after the interval.
The 22-year-old, unmarked at the back post, made no mistake to head in Alvas Powell’s pin-point cross that put the contest beyond doubt and allowed head coach Theodore Whitmore to juggle his squad.
Albanian-based Brian Brown, who played at the venue as a prolific striker with schoolboy side Rusea’s High and later for Montego Bay United, made it 4-0 on 67 minutes after replacing Junior Flemmings.
Bayer Leverkusen star Bailey grabbed his maiden senior goal for the Boyz 10 minutes later, with his neat run finished off with a glorious strike into the top corner.
Los Angeles FC’s Vassell completed the rout with nine minutes remaining, making no mistake from close-range to destroy Michél Dinzey’s side.
With the Boyz buzzing after hitting the visitors for six, they travel to Guyana to tackle their next Nations League game on Monday (9 Sept).
Guyana defeated Aruba 1-0, so Whitmore’s troops appreciate the importance of picking up maximum points and if they can replicate this type of free-flowing play with such confidence will have few problems.
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