A dramatic late goal from Sue-Lae McCalla proved to be the difference as Jamaica edged past their regional rivals Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 in an international friendly at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Thursday night.
Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren lauded his team’s resilience and credited his substitutes for injecting fresh energy that ultimately turned the tide in their favor.
“I never thought we would concede because we dominated, and that’s important to get that platform,” McClaren stated emphatically in his post-game interview. “I thought the subs who came on really changed the game and gave us energy.”
McClaren also emphasized the significance of securing a victory on home soil, a feat Jamaica had not achieved against T&T since 2014.
“They wanted to win, we are here to win,” he asserted. “I told the players, I want to see smiles at the end of the game—from them, from their families, from the supporters—and we are pleased to deliver that. Hopefully, on Sunday, we’ll replicate it.”
McCalla’s moment of glory
With momentum on their side, the Reggae Boyz will aim for back-to-back victories when the two teams face off again on Sunday at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Kingston. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m., with both sides eager to make a statement in their ongoing preparations for upcoming international campaigns.
The lone goal of the match arrived in the 83rd minute, a moment of brilliance from McCalla that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. As the Soca Warriors struggled to clear a set-piece, the 32-year-old center-back reacted quickest to a flick-on and unleashed a precise right-footed strike past substitute goalkeeper Aaron Enill.
For McCalla, who was earning his fourth international cap, the goal was a personal milestone.
“It’s a tremendous feeling, you know, to get the first goal for your country,” McCalla said, beaming with pride. “The crowd came out, and we got a lot of support tonight. As a player, my job is to keep on doing what I’m doing.”
“When the coach calls on me, I just want to be ready, stay fit, and hope that I get selected so I can go out there and put my best foot forward,” he added.
The Reggae Boyz nearly extended their lead just three minutes later when Daniel Green’s thunderous free-kick crashed against the crossbar with Enill well beaten. However, one goal was enough to seal the victory.
Yorke encouraged despite second consecutive defeat
While the defeat marked T&T head coach Dwight Yorke’s second loss in as many matches since his appointment in November—following a 3-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in December—he remained optimistic about his team’s progress.
“I thought it was a good game, and I expected it to be competitive, which it was,” Yorke reflected. “Jamaica is obviously ahead of us in the rankings. Our target was to try and match them and see how far the gap is between the two teams.”
Despite the result not going in his favor, Yorke was pleased with his players’ performance and saw the match as a stepping stone for the team’s long-term vision.
“I’m very, very happy. I know a lot of people are going to be looking at the results, but I’m very happy with where things have gone tonight,” he noted. “We have a bigger vision in terms of where we’re trying to get to, and we continue to build. This is a really good step for us.
“I loved the competitiveness and the attitude from the players,” Yorke added, underscoring his faith in the squad’s potential.
