Jamaica jumped to the highest of the desk in Group B of the CONCACAF Nations League A contest following a 1-0 win over Honduras inside Kingston’s Nationwide Stadium on Friday night time.
Grey’s strike places Jamaica prime of Group B
England-born Demarai Grey notched the one purpose of a poor rendition by the Reggae Boyz on his house debut to place Jamaica on prime on the six-team factors desk after the opening spherical of video games.
Within the different two video games within the group, Haiti and Cuba ended 0-0, whereas Grenada and Suriname ended 1-1. Jamaica leads the group with three factors, with all the opposite groups on one level, besides Honduras, who’re on the backside with out a level.
In a sport which lacked high quality from each side, particularly the house facet which repeatedly gave away the ball cheaply and infrequently went to route one with aimless punted balls from the again, Jamaica managed to seek out the online halfway the primary half just for it to be dominated out for offside.
The Central People, surprisingly wanting void of the same old aggressive, typical brief snappy passing, examined Jamaica’s goalkeeper Jahmali White with a stinging shot from Luis Palma which was tipped over the horizontal in the one significant assault for the primary 45 minutes.
On the different finish Dujuan Richards struck an upright after he reduce inside off the suitable facet on the stroke of half time.
And with neither goalkeeper having a lot to do, Grey discovered the winner within the 64thminute when he latched onto a neat cross from Bobby Reid simply past the halfline and he raced goalwards tracked by a defender however the former Everton entrance man who not too long ago signed for Saudi Arabian facet Al-Effifaq teased his method into the penalty field earlier than rifling a shot previous Edrick Menjivar.
It was his third purpose for Jamaica from six worldwide video games.
Suggestions from workforce Jamaica
Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson tried to place the sport in context throughout a postgame press convention.
“I believe there have been many chapters on this sport. I believe there have been some good spells and unhealthy spells through the match. I believe it was efficiency once we all added it collectively, however we will enhance in defending and attacking, so it’s plenty of issues we will work on however I like a 1-0.”
Grey appeared extra measured in his feedback.
“It was vital that we acquired the three factors as a result of that’s all that issues in the long run. It wasn’t the nicest sport, credit score to Honduras as a result of they arrive and attacked they usually made it aggressive, they made it troublesome for us, however second half we come again collectively and we provide you with a sport plan… we’ve to be affected person in these video games and anticipate the moments and by chance the second fell to me and on this event I scored.
“I’m blissful to be again house as effectively and to attain in entrance of the followers was an excellent feeling, so most vital we take the three factors and now we glance again at what we’ve achieved good, and what we’ve achieved unhealthy and deal with the subsequent sport.”
Jamaica will subsequent flip its consideration to Haiti on the identical venue subsequent Tuesday at 7:06 pm (Jamaica time), earlier than one other two fixtures subsequent month – away to Grenada on October 12, and away to Haiti three days later.
Groups P W D L Gf Ga Gd Pts
Jamaica 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 3
Grenada 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
Suriname 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
Cuba 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
Haiti 1 0 1 `0 0 0 0 1
Honduras 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0
