Reggae Boyz Warm-up for Showdown Against Soca Warriors With Big Win in Bermuda
Cadamarteri close to breaking duck on Jamaica debut
Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri helped steer Jamaica to a thumping 4-0 triumph over relative minnows Bermuda in their CONCACAF World Cup qualifier on Friday night.
The Sheffield Wednesday hot-shot finally made his debut for the Reggae Boyz, having controversially turned out for the England U19 the day after he was selected for Jamaica in mid-March 2024.
Cadamarteri was unleashed as the sole target man inside the Flora Duffy South Field Stadium in Hamilton, rather than be part of a two-pronged attack.
The 20-year-old was preferred for his youthful energy over veteran Michail Antonio, who has been turning out for the West Ham U21 team having been released by the Premier League club in June, and recalled Mexico-based striker Shamar Nicholson.
This was a risky gamble that paid off for head coach Steve McClaren. The former England manager has yet to win over certain members of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) following the side’s recent displays and results, yet stuck to his guns with a 4-1-4-1 tactical formation.
McClaren tweaked things as he is without four key players, sidelined because of injury, for these back-to-back World Cup qualifiers. Yet Jamaica did not really miss the skills of winger Leon Bailey (thigh), shotstopper Andre Blake (knee), striker Bobby Decordova-Reid (muscle) and defender Joel Latibeaudiere (shoulder) against Bermuda.
Bermuda boss Michael Findlay, renowned for orchestrating box-to-box action from his troops, shocked Cuba 2-1 in their last outing. So on paper this tie appeared to be a mouthwatering clash.
Yet the difference between Bermuda and Jamaica was only their goalscoring prowess and ability to finish.
Dogged defender Damion Lowe led the way by breaking the deadlock in the sixth minute. The ball ricocheted around the box like a pinball machine from rebounds following a corner, until Lowe powered his shot into the bottom right.
A swift counterattack caught the hosts napping for the first time as Jamaica doubled their tally on 26 minutes. Renaldo Cephas polished off a slick move by slotting home Gregory Leigh’s headed pass.
Enthusiastic Cadamarteri was left frustrated at not being able to add his name to the scoresheet before the interval. His wayward shooting was followed up with a shot that was denied by the left post on the brink of the half-time whistle.
Bermuda kicked off the second half brimming with confidence, only for the Jamaica defence to snuff out any danger.
Against the run of play a long-range shot from Kasey Palmer, set up by Jon Russell, beat keeper Dale Eve to sail into the bottom left corner and extend Jamaica’s lead on 58 minutes.
With the visitors having wrapped up the precious points through this strike, McClaren introduced Mason Holgate for Lowe and Karoy Anderson for Palmer.
It became a boring midfield battle with little goalmouth action, so both managers made changes with just under 20 minutes remaining. McClaren threw on strikers Kaheim Dixon and Nicholson in a bid to grab more goals against the suddenly disheartened Bermuda.
Yet the contest continued to be a poor showing apart from a sensational last-minute headed goal from Nicholson. Ronaldo Webster’s corner picked out Nicholson at the near post, with the strike polishing off Bermuda.
Although it was a slightly flattering result, Jamaica did manage to keep a rare clean sheet with shotstopper Jahmali White only required to make three saves.
McClaren revealed in his post-match press conference: “We took our opportunities and chances with the quality [that we had].
“We could have been better on the ball, we could have kept it better, but on transitions we created about 19 chances, seven on target, and could have scored more.”
Jamaica’s three points in Group B’s opening fixture has elevated them to the top of the table after Trinidad & Tobago were held to a scoreless draw by Curacao.
Dwight Yorke’s Soca Warriors found it hard going against Curacao at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain on Friday evening, and will need to up their game against Jamaica.
The Boyz will host T&T inside Kingston’s National Stadium on Tuesday, while Bermuda travel to tackle Curacao in the next set of Group B World Cup qualifiers.
JAMAICA: Waite – Leigh, Lowe (Holgate, 61), King, Lembikisa – Hayden – Cephas (Dixon, 72), Palmer (Anderson, 61), Russell, Campbell (Webster, 87)- Cadamarteri (Nicholson, 72). Subs: Chambers, Lambert, Topey, Antonio, Foster, Brown, Anglin
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