Reggae Boyz survive Guadeloupe scare, as McClaren demands more composure

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz delivered a story of two halves at PayPal Park, San Jose on Friday night time, clawing again from a objective all the way down to defeat Guadeloupe 2-1 in a tense Group C encounter of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Targets from Leon Bailey and Jon Russell secured the much-needed victory, however Head Coach Steve McClaren remained measured in his post-match evaluation—happy with the first-half efficiency, but candidly vital of his crew’s second-half lapse in management.

“We all the time give attention to the efficiency,” McClaren stated. “And I believed the primary half was wonderful regardless of going a objective down… we created possibilities, we managed the sport. However within the second half, we misplaced our form, our composure, and practically acquired punished.”

Early dominance, late redemption

Jamaica, shaken by a 1-0 loss to Guatemala of their opener, started with urgency. Bailey, closely scrutinized for his prior outing, appeared intent on rewriting the narrative. The Aston Villa winger examined Brice Cognard early, then rattled the put up within the twenty first minute after slicing by way of the Guadeloupe protection. Three minutes later, he practically produced one of many event’s most audacious objectives—his strike from inside his personal half thundered off the crossbar.

Regardless of Jamaica’s dominance in possession and territory, Guadeloupe surprised the Boyz within the thirty second minute. A swift right-sided nook discovered Thierry Ambrose, who capitalized on a momentary lapse within the Jamaican protection to fit dwelling from shut vary after captain Anthony Baron and Noah Cadiou mixed to serve him.

Bailey responds, Russell rises

The Boyz, nevertheless, responded with grit and sophistication. Warner Brown ran in behind the Guadeloupe defence to obtain a cleverly-clipped move from Dwayne Atkinson, earlier than organising Bailey to drive dwelling from contained in the penalty field. Russell additionally performed a job as his dummy run pulled a defender out of place thus creating the area for Bailey to do the injury—his seventh worldwide objective, and a redemptive second.

Simply earlier than halftime, the comeback was full. Demarai Grey lofted a pinpoint cross to the again put up, the place Jon Russell rose to move dwelling powerfully—his third objective in 5 matches.

“I believed he was wonderful—Jon Russell,” McClaren stated. “We dominated the ball, acquired large, made runs in behind. Leon might’ve had a hat-trick. That first half went precisely to plan.”

Second-half slide and Blake’s brilliance

But when the primary half embodied management and execution, the second was riddled with rigidity. As Guadeloupe shifted to a high-pressing, man-marking system, the Boyz failed to regulate.

“As an alternative of enjoying over the press, we performed into it,” McClaren defined. “We didn’t cope nicely with their physicality… we simply misplaced our construction.”

The tempo dipped, possibilities grew to become scarce, and Guadeloupe grew in perception. The ultimate minutes—particularly throughout the 9 minutes of added time—have been fraught with peril.

Andre Blake, ever the captain and savior, sprang into motion within the 90^th+1 minute to disclaim Ange-Freddy Plumain with an acrobatic fingertip save off the goalline. Moments later, Plumain discovered the web from a nook—just for the objective to be chalked off by referee Kwinsi Williams of Trinidad & Tobago for an offence.

The ultimate act noticed Blake once more rise to the event, smothering Florian David’s backheel try within the 90^th+8 minute, preserving the 2-1 lead and Jamaica’s event hopes.

“Our goalkeepers win you video games,” McClaren admitted. “Andre Blake made two or three great saves. We thank him for the three factors.”

McClaren’s verdict: Reward and warning

The Englishman’s post-match reflection was each praise-filled and cautionary.

“It was a little bit of a Jekyll and Hyde efficiency,” he conceded. “We would have liked a 3rd objective. At 2-1 it’s harmful… credit score to Guadeloupe—they pushed and pushed. We practically acquired punished.”

Waiting for the decisive conflict in opposition to Panama, McClaren is aware of one other uneven show might spell the top of the Reggae Boyz’s marketing campaign.

Within the group’s different sport, Panama edged Guatemala 1-0 in a most comfy method for his or her second win from as many video games.

Group line-ups: Jamaica – Andre Blake (c), Dexter Lembikisa, Richard King, Ethan Pinnock, Amari’i Bell, Joel Latibeaudiere, Dwayne Atkinson (Renaldo Cephas 46’), Jon Russell, Leon Bailey (Kaheim Dixon 85’), Warner Brown (Michail Antonio 81’), Demarai Grey (Karoy Anderson 46’)
Subs not used: Shaquan Davis, Jahmali White, Rumarn Burrell, Sue-Lae McCalla, Kyle Ming, Romario Williams, Gregory Leigh, Tyreece Campbell
Bookings: Russell (41’), Brown (47’), Anderson (54’), Bailey (77’)

Guadeloupe – Brice Cognard, Moco Zoran, Jerome Roussilon (Yvann Macon 59’), Nathanael Saintini, Anthony Baron, Noah Cadiou, Thierry Ambrose (Tairyk Arconte 82’), Matthias Phaeton (Raphael Mirval 81’), Dimitri Cavare, Jordan Leborgne (Florian David 59’), Steve Solvet (Ange-Freddy Plumain 86’)
Subs not used: Rubens Adelaide, Davy Rouyard, Alexandre Arenare, Junior Senneville, Kilian Bevis, Keyvan Beaumont, Vikash Tille
Bookings: Ambrose (11’), Phaeton (60’), Plumain (90+3’), Coach Jocelyn Angloma (90+5’)

Referee: Kwinsi Williams (Trinidad & Tobago)

First Assistant: Ainsley Rochard (Trinidad & Tobago)

Second Assistant: Zachari Zeegelaar (Suriname)

Fourth Official: Ekaterina Koroleva (USA)

Match Commissioner: Ludwig Balentin (Bonaire)

Group C Standings (After Matchday 2)