Late Drama Destroys Reggae Boyz’ Dream Of Reaching Qatar 2022
Paul Hall’s first competitive match came crashing down with a narrow defeat as Jamaica were beaten 2-1 by Mexico in a titanic tie at the eerily empty National Stadium last night (27 January).
The Reggae Boyz never gave up despite key defender Damion Lowe being shown his marching orders just before half-time, but a pair of late goals earned the visitors a 10th CONCACAF World Cup victory over Jamaica.
Hall, who took over the reins after head coach Theodore Whitmore was axed last month, had seen his fringe players suffer a creditable 3-0 in Peru. Against Mexico the 49-year-old had his A team with top players from Europe and North America. Yet his 4-1-4-1 formation was a strange decision, bearing in mind that this was a must-win contest and he had six strikers available to tackle Mexico.
Both sides were desperately seeking maximum points, with Mexico having gone on an initial unbeaten run of six World Cup qualifiers before slipping up to Canada and the United States. Jamaica had been leaking goals, but in their previous four qualifying games had improved with Whitmore steadying the ship with just two goals conceded.
With the safe pair of hands of Andre Blake back between the posts and a solid-looking back four, Jamaica’s problems are no longer the defence. Instead their woes remain scoring goals and the lack of service provided to the attackers.
Sure enough the same problems occurred in uncomfortable silence on home turf in Kingston. Skipper Blake had virtually nothing to do in the opening half, well protected by his reliable troops.
The first sign of danger was on the quarter-of-an-hour mark when Carlos Rodriguez broke through, only to volley the ball high over the rooted Blake and the gaping goalmouth.
Hector Moreno’s glancing header from a corner skimmed the crossbar midway through the first half, but the Reggae Boyz simply soaked up the pressure with Devon “Speedy” Williams playing in an intriguing attacking sweeper-like role in front of the defenders.
Michail Antonio, the lone striker, was getting frustrated upfront as the Mexicans completely hounded him out of the first 45 minutes.
The pivotal moment, which shattered the battling Boyz, was when Damion Lowe – the stand-in skipper in Peru – was shown a straight red card for a clumsy tackle in added time before the interval.
The centre back went for the ball, in the middle of the bumpy pitch, with Andres Guardado. Although Lowe got to the ball first, he followed through and damaged the Mexico captain’s ankle.
As VAR has been introduced for all final six CONCACAF World Cup qualifying matches, referee Ismael Cornejo consulted with Video Assistant Referee Allen Chapman before giving Lowe his marching orders.
After the turnaround Hall was forced to bolster his back four, who had brilliantly stifled Mexico, with the effective Walker replaced by Liam Moore.
The hosts initially came out firing on all cylinders, and after some early pressure were soon ahead. A deflection from a corner squeezed into the area, with Daniel Johnson making no mistake to beat veteran keeper Guillermo Ochoa on 50 minutes.
This crucial lead lifted the Boyz, who despite having to defend with 10 men, appeared buoyant even though both teams were clearly lacking the finishing touch in front of goal.
With the heavy pitch, insipid ambience and lacking a player, it was a question of time as to whether Jamaica could hold off the talented Mexicans.
Having to defend after taking the lead against the run of play, Hall opted to defend deeply – no doubt something he learned as assistant coach to Whitmore.
The lack of opportunities for Antonio meant that he was hauled off on 71 minutes, Andre Gray given a chance to double their lead. However, with just one striker and no one playing as a false number ten meant that there was no spark upfront. Had the home fans been permitted to attend, only absent because of the Covid restrictions, then Jamaica may have been more enterprising with vocal support.
Hall’s defensive tactics and the fact that the Boyz showed glimpses of tiredness worked against the hosts in the closing stages. Clever substitutes by the visitors revived their energy and impetus, with the arrival of whizzy wingers Jesus Corona and Diego Lainez causing all sorts of problems.
Mexico coach Gerardo Martino, who allegedly was ready to walk away after November’s two reversals, looked a relieved man on the bench when his side grabbed two goals in a three-minute spell. It was just the sort of magic that Jamaica have been lacked for some time.
Jamaica’s exhausted-looking defence succumbed to the pressure when substitute Henry Martin guided a deflection, after Blake parried Alexis Vega’s header into his path, with his mid-section from close range for a deserved and long overdue 81st-minute equaliser.
Two minutes later Vega polished off Rodriguez’s cross with a thunderous volley to earn Mexico a hard-fought success and all three points. Exactly the same scorers, who helped Mexico register a late 2-1 triumph at the Estadio Azteca last September, cost Jamaica dearly.
Hall’s troops will undoubtedly be disheartened to have tasted defeat, but the head coach – only given temporary charge for their remaining World Cup qualifiers – took a huge gamble by not fielding an attacking side.
Goals win matches and also the support of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). Such negative tactics cost Whitmore his job, yet Hall followed suit against Mexico when a vital win was required. From his line-up the Boyz were never going to register their first World Cup win over Mexico since 2008, even if Lowe had not been sent off.
Moving forward, Hall has a mammoth mountain to climb with victory necessary in each of their final five qualifiers to stand any remote chance of sneaking into the top four of the eight-nation group for a place at Qatar 2022.
Canada remain top of the table following their 2-0 win, their first triumph in Honduras since 1985. The United States sit in second place after a narrow 1-0 success over El Salvador, while Costa Rica stunned Panama 1-0.
The JFF will be demanding maximum points when Jamaica travel to tackle Panama on Sunday, then Hall will turn his attentions to the visit of Costa Rica to Kingston on Wednesday.
Hall has half-a-dozen in-form strikers at his disposal, with Cory Burke and Javon East scoring for fun at club level, so should utilise them for these two encounters even though the Boyz appear alien to winning matches and still only trying to stifle opponents.
JAMAICA: Blake – Lawrence (Leigh, 65), Pinnock, Lowe, Brown (Powell, 80) – Williams – Flermmings, Johnson, Morrison, Walker (Moore, 46) – Antonio (Gray, 71). Subs: Burke, Decordova-Reid, Miller, East, Stewart, Vassell, Mariappa, Knight
CONCACAF World Cup qualifying
Results: Costa Rica 1 Panama 0, Honduras 0 Canada 2, Jamaica 1 Mexico 2, USA 1 El Salvador 0
Table (after 9 games): Canada 19pts (+10 goal difference), USA 18pts (+8), Mexico 17pts (+5), Panama 14pts (+1), Costa Rica 12pts (0), Jamaica 7pts (-5), El Salvador 6pts (-7), Honduras 3pts (-12)
Jamaica’s remaining matches
Panama (a) 30 January , Costa Rica (h) 2 February, El Salvador (h) 24 March, Canada (a) 27 March, Honduras (h) 30 March
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