Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz capped off the second spherical of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers in emphatic vogue, dispatching Guatemala 3-0 on the Nationwide Stadium to prime Group E with an ideal 12 factors on Tuesday night.
The end result not solely sealed group supremacy, but in addition marked a symbolic turning level for Head Coach Steve McClaren, whose tenure had been lacking a house victory—till now.
“It was an ideal end result for us,” McClaren declared post-match, beaming with satisfaction. “Three targets, a clear sheet, 60 p.c possession, 18 pictures, 9 on track. We appeared a menace.”
Breaking the drought
Coming into the sport, Jamaica had not scored or received a match at residence in over a 12 months. Their final three appearances on the Nationwide Stadium had yielded frustration and silence. However from the opening whistle on Tuesday night, there was a definite sense of function from McClaren’s males.
The early exchanges had been evenly matched, with Guatemala’s Arquimides Ordonez testing Andre Blake early on. However the Boyz settled right into a rhythm, with Jon Russell and Warner Brown combining slick motion and sharp decision-making to hassle the Guatemalan protection.
Within the twenty sixth minute, Russell introduced himself to the house crowd with a towering header, changing a pinpoint Leon Bailey right-side cross into the opening objective. It was a debut residence objective for the midfielder, however extra considerably, it was a second that electrified the Jamaican devoted as for the primary time in lots of moons the Boyz tried to persistently play the ball via midpitch as an alternative of the unproductive, unimaginative and out of date route one hoofing of the ball from protection to the entrance gamers.
Brown strikes twice
With the wind now at their backs, the Boyz started to push ahead with verve. Demarai Grey’s dazzling run into the field earned a penalty after a foul by Erick Lemus. Bailey stepped up, however his effort was parried by goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen. It mattered little—Warner Brown was quickest to react, crashing the rebound residence to double Jamaica’s lead within the thirty seventh minute.
“He’s all the time in the course of the objective. He’s all the time a menace,” McClaren later stated of Brown. “We would have liked vitality from our quantity 9. Warner got here up the final two video games and this one, particularly, and exhibits that you just want a 9 to have the ability to press.”
After the halftime break, Jamaica continued to dictate the sport with intelligence and tempo. Cephas, who had been harmful down the flanks, created a number of alternatives—one headed over by Brown, one other volleyed onto the surface of the objective body by Richard King.
Placing it past doubt
Within the 73rd minute, Brown struck once more, this time delivering a near-post end from a Demarai Grey left-sided nook. It was his fourth worldwide objective in simply six appearances—an astonishing strike fee for the 2024-25Jamaica Premier League’s prime scorer.
“He’s in that six-yard field the place it issues,” McClaren emphasised. “That’s what nice forwards do.”
The Reggae Boyz continued to press for a fourth, with substitute Rumarn Burrell going shut within the closing minute. However Blake ensured the scoreboard remained unblemished, pulling off a superb save late on to disclaim substitute Matthew Evans.
Turning the Nationwide Stadium right into a fortress
Past the end result, McClaren was eager to focus on the importance of successful on residence soil—a psychological hurdle the crew was keen to beat.
“We needed to win right here,” he stated. “We needed to present the Jamaican crowd that we may win right here. We need to make it the beginning of a fortress. We needed that.”
The three factors additionally ensured Jamaica’s place in Pot 1 for the final-round draw, inserting them in an advantageous seeding place forward of the 2026 World Cup qualifying climax.
With their ticket punched for the following spherical and their confidence renewed, the Reggae Boyz will now flip their consideration to the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Fittingly, they’ll face Guatemala once more—this time on American soil—at Dignity Well being Sports activities Park in California.
Groups: Jamaica – Andre Blake, Amari’i Bell, Mason Holgate (Richard King 40’), Leon Bailey, Demarai Grey (Kasey Palmer 77’), Isaac Hayden, Joel Latibeaudiere, Warner Brown (Rumarn Burrell 77’), Damion Lowe, Jonathan Russell (Ravel Morrison 83’), Renaldo Cephas (Tyreece Campbell 83’)
Subs not used: Shaquan Davis, Jahmali White, Dexter Lembikisa, Kaheim Dixon, Dwayne Atkinson, Romario Williams, Gregory Leigh
Booked: None
Guatemala: Nicholas Hagen, Jose Ardon, Jose Pinto, Carlos Aguilar, Erick Lemus, Rodrigo Saravia, Nathaniel Mendez (Matthew Evans 68’), Jose Morales (Aaron Herrera 61’), Oscar Castellano, Arquimidez Ordonez (Darwin Lom 64’), Olger Escobar
Subs not used: Kenderson Navarro, Luis Moran, Nicolas Samayoa, Pedro Alton, Kevin Ramirez, Rudy Munoz, Oscar Santis, Jonathan Franco, William Cardoza
Booked: None
Match Officers:
Referee: David Gomez (Costa Rica)
1st Assistant Referee: Carlos Fernandez (Costa Rica)
2nd Assistant Referee: Jeriel Vaverde (Costa Rica)
4th Official: Pablo Camacho (Costa Rica)