KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC-New Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren says his first outing with Jamaica’s senior males’s nationwide soccer workforce was a lovely one regardless of enjoying to a 0-0 stalemate with Cuba of their Group A Nations League match on the Nationwide Stadium in Kingston on Friday.
The host missed very important alternatives to interrupt the impasse, with a number of probabilities going begging. Regardless of Cuba being decreased to 10 males late within the first half, Jamaica couldn’t capitalize, however head coach Steve McClaren was happy with the workforce’s total efficiency.
“We confirmed good composure and created some good probabilities,” mentioned McClaren. “It’s disappointing to not get the aim, however the efficiency provides me confidence going into the following sport. We now have Honduras on Tuesday, and I’m wanting ahead to a optimistic outcome there.”
Jamaica began brightly, with Kasey Palmer coming shut within the seventh minute. After some slick interaction, Palmer unleashed a left-footed volley from the fitting facet of the field, however the ball narrowly missed the highest left nook.
Two minutes later, Michail Antonio had a good nearer likelihood to present the Reggae Boyz the lead. His highly effective header from shut vary struck the fitting publish and rebounded again into play, leaving the Cuban protection scrambling.
The sport tilted additional in Jamaica’s favor within the forty fourth minute when Cuba’s Yunior Pérez was despatched off for a harmful problem, leaving the guests to play with ten males for the rest of the match.
Nonetheless, regardless of their numerical benefit, Jamaica couldn’t discover the breakthrough. Cuba’s Karel Espino practically punished them within the sixtieth minute with a well-taken free kick that sailed simply extensive of the left publish.
Jamaica continued to press ahead and had a golden alternative within the 77th minute when Shamar Nicholson discovered area within the heart of the field. However his effort sailed over the crossbar.
The ultimate statistics present Jamaica having 21 pictures, seven on the right track, and 73 % ball possession. With these statistics in thoughts, McClaren says he has seen sufficient to know that the workforce can get it proper.
“We created sufficient probabilities to win the sport,” McClaren admitted. “It’s simply that closing contact that eluded us tonight. However total, I’m proud of how we performed. The workforce is gelling effectively, and we’ll take that confidence into Honduras.”
Associated
