‘We had been unfortunate’ Reggae Boyz coach Hallgrimsson displays on 2-2 draw with Mexico

Head coach of Jamaica’s senior nationwide males’s soccer workforce, Heimir Hallgrimsson, has bemoaned his workforce’s misfortune regardless of enjoying to a 2-2 consequence with Mexico of their CONCACAF Nations League Group A of League A match contained in the Estadio Azteca on Sunday evening.

“I believe we had been unfortunate, we had actually good openings, we used the house behind Mexico so we had plenty of good counter-attacks; we had actually good set-pieces which we should always have scored from, so I might say we’re upset that we didn’t rating greater than two objectives,” Hallgrimsson informed the media at recreation’s finish.

He continued: “In fact Mexico had their possibilities as properly, however I believe we had extra open possibilities, clear-cut possibilities which is all the way down to particulars, perhaps extra working collectively to complete these assaults.”

With the consequence, Mexico moved to eight factors from their 4 video games, two forward of Jamaica who had one win and three attracts, with Suriname ending on the foot of the three-team desk with a solitary level.

Mexico thus superior to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League League A contest the place they are going to await the opposite three group winners.

For ending second Jamaica booked their ticket to the CONCACAF Gold Cup Event slated for later this yr.

Fulham’s Bobby Reid gave Jamaica a shock lead in seven minutes when he volleyed dwelling a 25-yard screamer after goalkeeper Jahmali White and punted a protracted objective kick which was flicked on by striker Shamar Nicholson to Jamal Lowe, who flicked inside for the onrushing Reid to silence the packed Azteca crowd.

Lowe may have and may have doubled the lead two minutes later however he failed to regulate the ball from contained in the six-yard space. 

The hosts pulled stage on 17 minutes when Orbelin Pineda slotted dwelling from shut vary after a left-sided deflected cross from Hirving Lozano of Napoli.  

The objectives continued to movement and Jamaica was again in entrance for a second time when a Reid left-sided nook went in off Edson Alvarez thigh for an personal objective.

Pleas had been halted for unhealthy climate for about 20 minutes and when it resumed Mexico smashed the ball in opposition to the crossbar when Lozano unleashed a pile driver.

He was rewarded on the stroke of halftime when Ravel Morrison dedicated a foul on Henry Martin contained in the penalty space and the Napoli winger made no mistake driving the ball dwelling down the center of the objective to tug the workforce’s stage.

It was solely the second time that Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz was incomes some extent on the Azteca, following on Theodore Whitmore facet which earned a 0-0 lead to a World Cup qualifier over a decade in the past.

Hallgrimsson was upset with the consequence. “We’re simply upset as a result of we didn’t win and we needed to go to the semi-finals of the Nations League,” he mentioned.

And he admitted that the hosts had been at all times tough to beat, particularly at dwelling. “They’re at all times a tough workforce to play in opposition to due to their particular person high quality and acceleration, pace, and fast actions, so they’re tough to play in opposition to. 

“The Mexico beginning 11 was kind of the identical that performed the World Cup, so they’re much extra synchronized in what they’re doing as a result of they know one another fairly properly.

“I watched them within the World Cup they usually should undergo from the group section as a result of they play actually good matches, however it’s at all times tough to play them particularly right here on this altitude and on this ambiance with its incredible followers.”

The second half created many scoring alternatives however neither workforce was able to taking them on the day. Nicholson went shut with a backpost head which introduced out a spectacular reflex save from veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

Substitute Diego Lainez had a deflected shot slam in opposition to the objective body, and Jamaica noticed a few possibilities and openings go abegging as properly.

Hallgrimsson admits that’s was at all times tough to play in opposition to one of many area’s class groups.

“It is without doubt one of the powerhouses in CONCACAF so we knew it was going to be a tough match, however I believe we did some good issues, however we’re beginning a journey collectively and I do know we have to enhance plenty of issues nonetheless, however the benefit of this match for us is that it exhibits although we go away and play in a tough stadium like Azteca, we are able to nonetheless get one thing from the sport.”

The Icelander has no illusions concerning the process at hand and he’s conscious that he must be affected person whereas on the identical time urging to the nation to train some persistence with the event of the workforce.

“That is my first official match, however we’re simply beginning a protracted journey so we are attempting to enhance plenty of issues, attempting to vary plenty of issues. This may take time, I’ve to be affected person and Jamaica must be affected person, however given the standard of the gamers I believe we is usually a very, superb workforce and never solely attain the World Cup [Finals] however I believe we are able to do good issues within the World Cup in 2026.

“However there are plenty of tournaments till then, we’re beginning a journey, now we’ve to attempt to discover gamers, to pick gamers who we need to have on the bus on this lengthy journey to 2026 and that is like the start for us, the coaches.”