Campbell Strike Seals Mexico Showdown For Reggae Boyz

Speid’s troops reach third CONCACAF Nations League quarter-finals on the spin

Tyreece Campbell’s first international goal proved enough for Jamaica to finish 1-1 in Honduras last night, which propelled them to a last eight two-legged Nations League clash with Mexico.

The Charlton Athletic winger, who featured in all four Nations League games, scored midway through the first half. Luis Palma’s equalising thunderbolt, just after the turnaround, turned the tie into a jittery contest for the hapless Reggae Boyz.

As this was the very final League A Group B game, both teams were battling for different reasons after Guatemala stunned Suriname 1-0 to top the table. Jamaica needed just a draw to move into the last eight, while Honduras were eliminated from reaching the quarter-finals although a stalemate would mean they avoided relegation to League B.

With the Boyz having suffered a recent shock 1-0 home defeat to Honduras, the Central American side’s first success over Jamaica for 13 years, interim head coach Rudolph Speid was desperate to avoid another slip up.

Speid was missing his usual sole striker Bailey Cadamarteri through suspension, so reverted to a 4-3-3 formation with a frontline comprising Campbell, Kaheim Dixon and Javon East.

Defender Joel Latibeaudiere was also absent because of injury and joined Rumarn Burrell, Renaldo Cephas, Tyvon Gray, Isaac Hayden and Kasey Palmer on the sidelines.

The Chelato Ucles National Stadium in Tegucigalpa kicked off with the hosts dictating play and looking extremely dangerous. Palma tested shotstopper Andre Blake in the opening minute with a left-footed effort, followed by Jonathan Rubio’s shot that ended up narrowly wide of the target.

Speid swiftly reverted to five at the back to deal with these onslaught of attacks, yet totally against the run of play Jamaica found the back of the net on 27 minutes.

Campbell, who made his international debut last year, bagged his maiden goal for the Boyz. His ambitious long-range shot comically bounced off the right post and past helpless keeper Edrick Menjivar.
 

Despite playing second fiddle, Jamaica managed to hold onto the lead going into the break. They could have gone into a shock 2-0 lead but East squandering his chance on 32 minutes.

Honduras looked even more hungry in the second half, obviously eager to preserve their League A status. They should have equalised on 49 minutes, but Dereck Moncada failed to beat Blake with his header. Two minutes later the hosts were back on level terms courtesy of Luis’ sensational strike.

Jamaica appeared to be on the ropes as Honduras continued to play attractive and flowing football that left the Boyz chasing shadows. When they introduced substitutes Exon Arzu and Edwin Rodriguez, who toyed with their opponents, it seemed only a matter of time before they grabbed a deserved lead.

Just after the hour mark Kervin Arriaga sent in a spectacular shot to no avail, followed by a thumping drive from livewire Rodriguez that Blake brilliantly saved.

With such a one-sided contest, it became a tense finale with Jamaica fending off the danger of conceding again and relentlessly kicking the ball forward like a Sunday League outfit.

Yet the Boyz were beaming at the final whistle, despite such an insipid display, because they had reached their third Nations League quarter-final on the bounce.

Jamaica’s reward is a tricky two-legged contest against Mexico, with victory over the team world ranked no.10 enough for the Boyz to automatically qualify for the prestigious 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The stalemate was enough for Honduras to both avoid relegation and to earn a spot in March’s Gold Cup preliminary qualifiers.

However, they will be without Belgium-based centre back Victor Vandenbroucke. Following the draw against Jamaica, he has decided to no longer represent Honduras. The 18-year-old, who didn’t play a minute in the Nations League and has never played for Honduras, holds dual citizenship and now his goal to represent the United States.

The US, Canada, Mexico and Panama will make their first appearances in the Nations League next month, joining Group A duo Curacao and Haiti plus Group B pair Guatemala and Jamaica.

Speid, one of just seven candidates that tick all the boxes required by the Jamaica Football Federation’s job advertisement, will need to dramatically up his game to stand any chance against the mighty Mexicans.

His future with the Boyz no doubt hinges on how his team tackles the highest ranked CONCACAF team, but it appears he will require an urgent overhaul of tactics to succeed.

JAMAICA: Blake – Webster (Ainsworth, 89), Oliver Freckleton, King, Lowe – Clarke (Atkinson, 89), Anderson, Ming, Campbell (Howell, 79), East (Nolan, 62), Dixon (Grant, 90). Subs: Cover, Lyle, Knight, Davis.

CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE
Quarter Finals (9-17 November)
Canada vs. Guatemala
Mexico vs. Jamaica
Panama vs. Curaçao
United States vs. Haiti

League A Group A October Results
Costa Rica 2 Haiti 0
Curacao 1 Trinidad & Tobago 0
Dominican Republic 2 Haiti 4
Nicaragua 0 Costa Rica 3
Nicaragua 1 Dominican Republic 2
Trinidad & Tobago 1 Curacao 1

League A Group A Table (after 2 games)
1. Curacao 10pts (+7 goal difference)
2. Haiti 9pts (+4)
3. Dominican Republic 9pts (0)
4. Costa Rica 6pts (+2)
5. Trinidad & Tobago 1pt (-3)
6. Nicaragua 0pts (-10)

League A Group B October Results
El Salvador 0 Jamaica 2
Guatemala 1 Suriname 0
Honduras 1 Jamaica 1
Martinique 1 El Salvador 1
Martinique 2 Honduras 1
Suriname 0 Guatemala 0

League A Group B Table
1. Guatemala 7pts (+6 goal difference)
2. Jamaica 7pts (+2)
3. Suriname 7pts (+1)
4. Honduras 4pts (-1)
5. Martinique 4pts (-2)
6. El Salvador 4pts (-6)

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