“We’ve talked about each sport and never dwelling with remorse and in the mean time we live with remorse for what we’ve got finished on this event. It’s not adequate – individually and collectively.”
With that haunting admission, head coach Steve McClaren set the tone for an evening that ended Jamaica’s CONCACAF Gold Cup journey and will but reshape the nationwide program.
The 4-1 defeat to Panama on the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas on Tuesday ensured a primary group-stage exit in six editions and, in McClaren’s phrases, delivered “the wake-up name we most likely wanted.”
Consistency misplaced, World-Cup dream threatened
“These three video games have been a wake-up name for all of us… We’ve had no consistency and that won’t get us to the World Cup.”
McClaren made it clear that reputations now rely for little. From star wingers Leon Bailey and Demarai Grey to Premier League stalwart Ethan Pinnock, each participant should “present it from now till September inside their golf equipment” to maintain a spot for the 2026 qualifiers.
Panama struck inside 4 minutes when Ismael Diaz’ 25-yard, left-footed drive clipped Bailey and wrong-footed Andre Blake. The ahead twisted the knife on 17 minutes, gliding previous Richard King and Dexter Lembikisa tackles earlier than beating Blake on the close to submit. It was a save Blake ought to have made.
A glimmer of hope arrived on 27 minutes: Lembikisa, on the fitting, obtained a ball from Grey and whipped in a exact cross for the onrushing Amari’i Bell on the again submit to energy residence a header. But momentum seeped away moments earlier than halftime.
ON 42 minutes, Kasey Palmer pulled down Azarias Londono simply contained in the penalty space and Diaz accomplished an ideal hat-trick when he transformed the penalty for 3-1 lead on 45 minutes.
And 4 minutes into added time Warner Brown appeared to have been fouled within the Panamanian penalty field and though VAR requested Honduran referee Selvin Brown to take a second take a look at the incident, the Central American official determined towards awarding the Reggae Boyz a penalty after seven minutes of stoppage time.
McClaren deemed that non-call the sport’s “defining second.”
Second-half sparkles and the inevitable fourth
Jamaica pressed after the interval – Kaheim Dixon rattled the submit, Renaldo Cephas was twice denied – however couldn’t pierce Orlando Mosquera once more. Within the 89th minute a swift counter noticed Tomas Rodríguez roll the ball into an unguarded internet after rounding a stranded Blake nicely outdoors his aim space, and sealing Panama’s excellent nine-point group and the Boyz’ early exit.
McClaren on expertise vs. group
“Everyone talks about our expertise, however expertise is nothing with out exhausting work… Groups will win, not people.” Quoting Panama boss Thomas Christiansen, McClaren underscored Jamaica’s job: mixing marquee names right into a cohesive unit earlier than September’s qualifiers.
Within the group’s different match, Guatemala defeated Guadeloupe 3-2 to e book their place within the quarter-final spherical with six factors, adopted by Jamaica on three and Guadeloupe pointless on the foot of Group C.
The sting of Austin might linger, however McClaren has set a transparent ultimatum: solely hard-earned membership kind and unwavering dedication will e book a ticket to the World Cup qualifiers.
Groups:
Jamaica – Andre Blake; Dexter Lembikisa, Ethan Pinnock, Richard King (Gregory Leigh 46′), Amari’i Bell; Jonathan Russell (Bobby Reid 64’), Kasey Palmer; Leon Bailey (Michail Antonio 72’), Demarai Grey (Kaheim Dixon 64’), Joel Latibeaudiere; Warner Brown (Renaldo Cephas 46’)
Booked: Latibeaudiere 61′
Subs not used: Shaquan Davis, Jahmali Waite, Karoy Anderson, Dwayne Atkinson, Kyle Ming, Romario Williams, Tyreece Campbell
Panama (4-3-3) – Orlando Mosquera; César Blackman, José Córdoba, Fidel Escobar, Cristian Martínez (Carlos Harvey 46’); Víctor Griffith ( Édward Cedeño 84’), Aníbal Godoy (Edgardo Fariña 72’), Jorge Gutiérrez; Ismael Diaz (César Yanis 66’), Azarías Londono (José Rodríguez 46’), Tomás Rodríguez
Booked: Córdoba 49′
Subs not used: Luis Mejía, John Gunn, Eduardo Guerrero, Janpol Morales, Eric Davis, Andrés Andrade, Iván Anderson
Referee: Selvin Brown (Honduras)
Assistant Referees: Gerson Orellana, Ronay Salinas (each Honduras)
Fourth Official: Adons Carrasco (Dominican Republic)
VAR: Jesús Montero (Costa Rica) AVAR: Shirley Perelló (Honduras)
Match Commissioner: Sergio Hidalgo (Costa Rica)
