Reggae Boyz Taste Historic Home Defeat to Honduras
Even the heroics of shotstopper Blake couldn’t prevent Reggae Boyz catastrophe
Andre Blake’s half-a-dozen saves spared Jamaica a hefty defeat to Honduras last night, and this 1-0 slip-up leaves the Reggae Boyz in CONCACAF Nations League trouble.
Keyrol Figueroa’s 14th-minute tap-in proved enough for Honduras to register their inaugural victory over the Boyz on Jamaica soil, despite finishing the match with ten players.
The National Stadium home fans in Kingston were stunned into silence by the early attacks from unfancied Honduras. It was initially one-way traffic with the El Bicolour testing Jamaica’s resilience.
Blake brilliantly cleared Luis Palma’s corner during the opening stages, and must have been relieved to see the loose ball hopelessly headed over the gaping target by Deybi Flores.
Honduras, with the bit between their teeth, continued to attack at every opportunity. A neat moved initiated by Flores saw Jonathan Rubio pick out Figueroa with a pin-point cross for what ended up as a simplistic breakthrough goal.
Blake came to Jamaica’s rescue three minutes after conceding to deny the danger of livewire Dereck Moncada in the box.
Midway through the opening half Bailey Cadamarteri, playing as a lone striker, dispossessed Denil Maldonado. He sped forward and tried his luck to no avail, gifting shotstopper Edrick Menjivar an easy save.
Yet it was surprisingly the visitors who showed more hunger and bite throughout the fast-paced encounter. Blake tipped over Luis Palma’s powerful header just after the half-hour mark to keep Jamaica in the game.
The Boyz, who had seen off Guatemala 3-2 on the same pitch three days earlier thanks to a stoppage time strike from Renaldo Cephas, desperately needed to lift their game after the half-time interval.
Interim manager Rudolph Speid introduced Miguel Oliver Freckleton, the Austrian-based defender, for his international debut in place of booked Brandon Cover for the second half.
The battling Boyz found their opponents determined to secure an historic win in Kingston, with Honduras’s Cristopher Melendez and Denil Maldonado booked in quick succession to prevent Jamaica threats.
Jose Molina’s team came close to doubling their advantage on the hour-mark. Palma was fouled on the edge of the area, but rather than opt for a free kick the side continued play and Alejandro Reyes’ drive came perilously close to finding the back of the net.
Jamaica’s immediate response was Cadamarteri’s wild and high attempt to bag an equaliser, which breathed some much-needed life into the hosts.
There was some sudden hope for the Boyz in the 68th minute. Moncada was shown a straight red card for elbowing Ronaldo Webster, although Speid had already unleashed a pair of his substitutes.
It was surprising that Speid didn’t alter his formation and personnel. In stark contrast, his counterpart Molina was swift to make changes and later brought on the fresh legs of striker Bryan Rochez for goalscoring hero Figueroa.
Jamaica substitute Javon East came the closest to snatching an equaliser with ten minutes remaining. While at the other end of the pitch Flores attempted a cheeky long-range attempt that clipped over Blake’s gaping goalmouth.
This defeat for the Boyz is a bitter blow with their qualifying for the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-finals now in severe jeopardy.
The top two finishers from the pair of League A tables will join Canada, Mexico, Panama and the United States in the last eight, which will be played between November 9-17.
It is a three-team race from League A Group A between Curacao, Dominican Republic and Haiti. While it remains a wide-open battle in Group B, with Jamaica facing a pair of must-win matches next month.
Speid takes his troops on their travels. The Boyz will play El Salvador on 2 October, and three days later face Honduras once more. The Honduras fans will be aiming to hike up the ambience inside the Chelato Uclés National Stadium in Tegucigalpa for Jamaica’s visit.
If Speid wishes to become a serious contender for the vacant Jamaica head coach position, he certainly needs to shake things up and show far better tactical nous.
JAMAICA: Blake – Webster (Atkinson, 83), Latibeaudiere, King, Cover (Oliver Freckleton, 46) – Hayden (Clark, 62), Anderson – Dixon, Palmer (East, 62), Cephas (Campbell, 12) – Cadamarteri. Subs: Ainsworth, Lyle, Knight, Lowe, Gray, Davis.
CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE
September Results
El Salvador 3 Martinique 1
Guatemala 6 El Salvador 0
Honduras 2 Suriname 3
Jamaica 3 Guatemala 2
Jamaica 0 Honduras 1
Suriname 2 Martinique 1
October Fixtures
El Salvador vs Jamaica
Guatemala vs Suriname
Honduras vs Jamaica
Martinique vs El Salvador
Martinique vs Honduras
Suriname vs Guatemala
League A Group B Table (after 2 games)
1. Suriname 6pts (+2 goal difference)
2. Guatemala 3pts (+5)
3. Honduras 3pts (+2)
4. Jamaica 3pts (+2)
5. El Salvador 3pts (-4)
6. Martinique 0pts (-3)
League A Group A Table (after 2 games)
1. Curacao 6pts (+6 goal difference)
2. Haiti 6pts (+3)
3. Dominican Republic 6pts (+2)
4. Trinidad & Tobago 0pts (-2)
5. Costa Rica 0pts (-3)
6. Nicaragua 0pts (-6)
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