Onto the next one!
That’s the focus of Reggae Boyz head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson after his Jamaican team lost 1-2 to Canada in their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final match inside the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday morning.
The visitors took the lead in stoppage time in the first half through Jonathan David, only for SHamar Nicholson to pull Jamaica level in the 56th minute. However, just when it seemed both teams would settle for a share of the spoils, Stephen Eustaquio stabbed home four minutes from full time.
It was a historic victory for the North Americans who were scoring their first victory over Jamaica in 35 years, having last tasted success in Jamaican in 1988.
The game was originally slated for Friday evening, but was postponed due to the effects of inclement weather which affected the island over the past 48 hours.
The two teams will do it again on Tuesday evening inside BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, with the winner on aggregate advancing to the Nations League semi-finals next March. The winner also books one of the six guest spots in next summer Copa America tournament which will be hosted by the US.
The loser gets another shot at Copa America selection by joining the three other losers from the quarter-finals for the two remaining tickets to the South American showpiece tournament.
It’s half time
Hallgrimsson was firm in his view on how to proceed. “This one [game] is finished and at home everyone is disappointed to lose and people show it in different ways, but we need to focus now on how we can get ready for the second game, the second half, which is in Canada,” he told the media at the postgame press conference.
He added: “The only thing I told [them} after this game is that it’s half time. How we would like to prepare for the next game which is the second half, it starts now, how we would like to prepare for it.”
Jamaica started the brighter of the two teams but somehow Aston Villa ace Leon Bailey managed to find a way to squander about three chances to put the visitors under pressure by taking an early lead.
As early as in the fifth minute Bailey was played into a one-on-one situation with Canada’s goalkeeping captain Man Borjan but his cheeky chipped effort missed the target.
Ten minutes later Michail Antonio lobbed a pass to Bailey who fired narrowly wide of the far post from about six yards out. That was Antonio’s major contribution as he was forced off with an injury in the 21st minute and replaced by Trivante Stewart.
As the tight encounter drew close to the half-time break, Bailey arrived at the back to smack a low effort against the upright, much to the chagrin of the small crowd inside the Grand stand.
VAR intervenes to validate Boyz goal
Having missed those three chances, Canada got into its own and made the Reggae Boyz pay for their profligacy. The burly Cyle Larin took a high pass on the edge of the penalty area on the right and completely befuddled left wingback Greg Leigh and left-sided center-back Ethan Pinnock before driving towards the goalline and pulling a cross for David to stab home at the back post.
Jamaica drew level through Nicholson who responded quickest to Daniel Johnson’s intelligent freekick from midway the Canadian half. Nicholson controlled superbly and ran into the penalty area before burying his shot past Borjan. The goal was initially waved off by American referee Tori Penso after her compatriot first assistant referee indicated the offence.
But luckily for the Reggae Boyz, VAR, the video assistant referee, was in use and it validated the strike shortly afterwards.
Leigh believes his team paid the price for not driving home the advantage when they had the chance. “I think we did well to get back in the game and then we switched off again, didn’t punish them when we were on top in our spell in the second half and obviously didn’t get the result.
“I think both teams had spells in the game, I think we started the game quite well and had enough chances to go in front, and like coach says at this level when you don’t take those chances, maybe if you switch off for one or two you end up down,” he said.
But just when it appeared both sides were content for a draw, the Jamaican defence was breached yet again after Richie Laryea combined well down the right flank as he raced into the penalty area unmolested and his smart cutback was met in superb fashion by the onrushing Eustaquio to stab home first time.
It’s about keeping focus
Head coach Hallgrimsson reflected on the thin margins that make the difference in football. “First of all it was a difficult match to play because it was really hot, so the tempo, understandably, got lowered, and given the preparation from yesterday as well, it was understandable that players didn’t play at their best.
“In a game like this it’s about keeping focus. They lost their focus three, four times, we did not punish them; we lost our focus two, three times they punished us and that’s how it is at this level, you have to take your chances and not give chances. That is the big picture in my opinion.”
For Canada’s head coach it was mission accomplished at the half-way stage of the two-legged tie. “We wanted to come out of here with a result so, the first phase, mission accomplished for us.”
He said, “It was a competitive game. We knew coming in here it would be very difficult with the quality of players on their team.”
The former assistant coach also pointed to his team’s lack of concentration which led to the equalising goal. “They took a quick free kick and were able to catch us. Sometimes in those moments you have to be a little more focused. Credit to the team to fight through it and come back and score a great second goal.”
It was reported that the Canadian team left Jamaica on Saturday for home ahead of Tuesday’s match, while the Jamaican delegation is slated to depart from the Donald Sangster International Airport on Sunday for Toronto for the quick turn-around in much colder climes at BMO Field.
They can change the play at any moment
“They are very good players on that team,” Biello said of the Reggae Boyz. “We know they can change the play at any moment. We know we have to get the job done, play our way on our home field. We are halfway there.”
- Teams: Jamaica – Andre Blake, Ethan Pinnock, Di’shon Bernard, Gregory Leigh, Dexter Lembikisa (Javain Brown 81st), Joel Latibeaudiere, Daniel Johnson, Leon Bailey, Bobby Reid, Shamar Nicholson, Michail Antonio (Trivante Stewart 21st, Demario Phillips 81st)
- Booked: Nicholson (40th), Leigh (70th), Bailey (77th)
- Subs not used: Amal Knight, Jahmali Waite, Michael Hector, Tayvon Gray, Damion Lowe, Tyreek Magee, Karoy Anderson, Jonathan Russell, Romario Williams
- Canada – Milan Borjan, Richie Laryea, Steven Vitoria, Kamal Miller, Sam Adekugbe, Cyle Larin (Junior Hoilett 71st), Tajon Buchanan (Jonathan Osorio 71st), Ismael Kone (Mark-Anthony Kaye 59th), Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan David (Liam Millar 90th), Alphanso Davies (Alistair Johnston 90th)
- Booked: None
- Subs not used: Dayne St. Clair, Maxime Crepeau, Luc De Fougerolles, Derek Cornelius, Samuel Piettte, Ali Ahmed, Jacen Russell-Rowe
- Referee: Tori Penso (USA)
- Assistant Referee 1: Brooke Mayo (USA)
- Assistant Referee 2: Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)
- Fourth Official: Natalie Simon (USA)
- Referee Assessor: Jose Camargo (Mexico)
- VAR: Edwin Jurisevic (USA)
- AVAR 1:Corey Parker (USA)
- Match Commissioner: Marlon Gomez (Nicaragua)
