Reggae Boyz beat Honduras in CONCACAF Nations League opener
Jamaica jumped to the highest of the desk in Group B of the CONCACAF Nations League A contest following a 1-0 win over Honduras inside Kingston’s Nationwide Stadium on Friday evening.
Grey’s strike places Jamaica high of Group B
England-born Demarai Grey notched the one aim of a poor rendition by the Reggae Boyz on his residence debut to place Jamaica on high on the six-team factors desk after the opening spherical of video games.
Within the different two video games within the group, Haiti and Cuba ended 0-0, whereas Grenada and Suriname ended 1-1. Jamaica leads the group with three factors, with all the opposite groups on one level, besides Honduras, who’re on the backside with no level.
In a recreation which lacked high quality from either side, particularly the house aspect which repeatedly gave away the ball cheaply and sometimes went to route one with aimless punted balls from the again, Jamaica managed to seek out the web halfway the primary half just for it to be dominated out for offside.
The Central People, unusually trying void of the standard aggressive, typical quick snappy passing, examined Jamaica’s goalkeeper Jahmali White with a stinging shot from Luis Palma which was tipped over the horizontal in the one significant assault for the primary 45 minutes.
On the different finish Dujuan Richards struck an upright after he reduce inside off the appropriate aspect on the stroke of half time.
And with neither goalkeeper having a lot to do, Grey discovered the winner within the 64thminute when he latched onto a neat cross from Bobby Reid simply past the halfline and he raced goalwards tracked by a defender however the former Everton entrance man who just lately signed for Saudi Arabian aspect Al-Effifaq teased his means into the penalty field earlier than rifling a shot previous Edrick Menjivar.
It was his third aim for Jamaica from six worldwide video games.
Suggestions from workforce Jamaica
Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson tried to place the sport in context throughout a postgame press convention.
“I feel there have been many chapters on this recreation. I feel there have been some good spells and dangerous spells in the course of the match. I feel it was an excellent efficiency once we all added it collectively, however we will enhance in defending and attacking, so it’s lots of issues we will work on however I really like a 1-0.”
Grey appeared extra measured in his feedback.
“It was essential that we received the three factors as a result of that’s all that issues ultimately. It wasn’t the nicest recreation, credit score to Honduras as a result of they arrive and attacked they usually made it aggressive, they made it tough for us, however second half we come again collectively and we provide you with a recreation plan… we have now to be affected person in these video games and look forward to the moments and by chance the second fell to me and on this event I scored.
“I’m completely satisfied to be again residence as effectively and to attain in entrance of the followers was an important feeling, so most essential we take the three factors and now we glance again at what we’ve achieved good, and what we’ve achieved dangerous and concentrate on the subsequent recreation.”
Jamaica will subsequent flip its consideration to Haiti on the identical venue subsequent Tuesday at 7:06 pm (Jamaica time), earlier than one other two fixtures subsequent month – away to Grenada on October 12, and away to Haiti three days later.
Groups P W D L Gf Ga Gd Pts
Jamaica 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 3
Grenada 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
Suriname 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
Cuba 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
Haiti 1 0 1 `0 0 0 0 1
Honduras 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0