Reggae Boyz Make Nations League Champs Look Like Chumps 

Jamaica’s flurry of goals turn up the heat on Mexico manager 
 
Interim head coach Rudolph Speid steered Jamaica to an historic victory over Mexico last night, when they bagged three goals against El Tri for the first time. 
 
The Reggae Boyz will be brimming with confidence, following their 3-2 triumph in Kingston to score maximum points, when they tackle the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday. 
 
An own goal midway through the opening half edged the Boyz ahead against the run of play at the National Stadium. Renaldo Cephas doubled their lead at the start of the second half, and Richard King converted a spot-kick just after the hour mark for an incredible 3-0 lead.

 
The Nations League defending champions desperately fought back through a strike from teenage sensation Gilberto Mora with 20 minutes remaining. Despite Speid’s substitutions to shore up Jamaica’s defence, Julian Quinones scored a penalty on 81 minutes.  
 
The frustrated visitors failed to nab a last-gasp equaliser, leaving the Mexico manager yet to net win in his five games at the helm and Jamaica close to sealing a Nations League semi-final spot. 
 
With Speid renowned for setting his sides up to be defensive, it was a huge surprise that he courageously opted for a 4-3-3 formation. He selected a powerful frontline comprising Cephas, Kaheim Dixon and Javon East, relying on their pace and physicality to cause chaos. 
 
Mexico head coach Rafael Marquez, appointed in July, opted for the same formation in a bid to break his duck and test Jamaica keeper Jahmali Waite. The Boyz’ usual skipper and shotstopper Andre Blake was sidelined because of a groin injury, so defender Joel Latibeaudiere took over as captain. 
 
Waite was called into early action and made a fingertip diving save to deny Santiago Gimenez in a one-on-one situation, after a long ball bamboozled the home defence. 
 
With Mexico swarming forward at every opportunity, it was a shock when Jamaica took a 27th-minute lead. Mexico keeper Raul Rangel was penalised for taking too long to complete his goal kick, with the Boyz gifted a corner.  
 
Ronaldo Webster sent the ball into the crowded area, which was misdirected backwards by defender Jesus Gallardo’s glancing header from six yards for an own goal. 
 
El Tri went in search of an equaliser before the interval. Waite saved Quinones’ close-range attempt, and Luis Romo thumped his ambitious shot off target. 
 
Cephas sensationally doubled Jamaica’s lead 35 seconds into the second half. He collected Dixon’s cross from the right wing, beat defender Israel Reyes and unleased a curling shot past Rangel to send the overjoyed home supporters wild with excitement.  
 
It was the perfect second-half start for Speid, who had made a straight swap at right wing-back during the interval with Denzel Hall replacing Kyle Ming. 
 
With the Boyz buzzing, they ripped through the visitors to exploit open spaces and make the visitors look disorganised thanks to Speid’s superb tactics. 
 
Yet Jamaica had to wait until the 64th-minute before they notched another goal. After Gallardo tripped Dixon, VAR intervened with referee Mario Escobar awarding a spot-kick after a pitchside monitor check. King made no mistake by thundering his penalty into the top right corner, and Rangel diving the wrong way. 
 
As the visitors attacked relentlessly, they were rewarded with a brilliant goal from Mora. He is known as the Mexican Pele, and in September became Mexico’s youngest-ever goalscorer shortly before his 18th birthday. 
 
The youngster intercepted a pass from substitute Santiago Sandoval, created space just outside the box then fired a low drive past Waite to reduce the deficit on 70 minutes. 
 
Waite breathed a sigh of relief when Mexico’s next attack saw newly introduced striker Alexis Vega magnificently curl his free-kick narrowly over the crossbar. 
 
As Jamaica were visibly tiring following their exploits that were converted into goals, Speid made changes. He hauled off Cephas and Dixon in a double change with quarter-of-an-hour remaining, sending on wingers Ricky-Jade Jones and Khori Bennett. 
 
Livewire Mora was involved in Mexico’s second strike. He raced into the box and laid the ball for Sandoval, who was clumsily bundled over by Webster. Quinones sent Waite the wrong way by drilling the ball into the bottom left corner. 
 
Although Christopher Ainsworth was brought on for East to fortify Jamaica’s midfield with seven minutes remaining, Mexico messed up their trio of scoring chances during a frantic finale. Gallardo, Sandoval and Quinones were all guilty of rushing their opportunities. 
 
Speid takes his troops into battle at the imposing and futuristic looking Estadio BBVA, known as El Gigante de Acero aka the steel giant, in Guadalupe on Tuesday. A stalemate would be enough for Jamaica to secure a semi-final berth. 
 
His counterpart Marquez is under mounting pressure to net his first win, especially after this unexpected reversal in Kingston made it three defeats on the bounce. He is unsuccessfully trying to implement possession-based tactics, a copycat of his successful playing days at Barcelona. 
 
Mexico fans are demanding and will voice their displeasure inside the Estadio BBVA if El Tri are not dictating the tempo against Jamaica. This should make the hosts nervous if the Boyz can play with the same determination and stick to free-flowing play. 
 
The semi-finals beckon for Jamaica, if they can survive the onslaught of attacks as battling Mexico will be desperately seeking a comeback performance.  
 
To reach the last four at the expense of the reigning Nations League champions would be a notable achievement by Speid, whose contract soon expires. He has applied for the role of permanent manager. 
 
Rather than a traditional draw, the Nations League semi-finals shall be determined by a performance-based seeding bracket following Tuesday’s Mexico vs Jamaica quarter-final second leg.  
 
The four teams will be ranked based on their total points, goal difference and goals scored. The draw will comprise No.1 Ranked Team vs No.4 and No.2 vs No.3. As it stands that would mean USA vs Curacao or Panama and Canada vs Jamaica.  
 
Should the Boyz be held to a draw in Mexico they could end up tackling the United States, who will managerless after their next game as Mauricio Pochettino returns to the Premier League as Manchester United head coach on 18 November. 
 
JAMAICA: Waite – Freckleton, King, Latibeaudiere – Webster, Clarke (Merrick), Anderson, Ming (Hall, 46) – Cephas (Jones, 75), East (Ainsworth, 83), Dixon (Bennett, 75). Subs: Grant, T.Hall, Brown, Jones, Knight, Laing, Green. 
 
CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS 
Curacao 0 Panama 0 
Second leg | 15 November – Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City (6pm ko local time). 
Guatemala 2 Canada 4 
Second leg | 16 November – BMO Field, Toronto (8pm ko). 
Haiti 0 USA 6 
Second leg | 17 November – TQL Stadium, Cincinnati (7pm ko). 
Jamaica 3 Mexico 2 
Second leg | 17 November – Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe (8.30pm). 
 

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