Cephas has final say as Jamaica rally past Guatemala

Renaldo Cephas struck four minutes into stoppage time to cap a dramatic Jamaica comeback and give the Reggae Boyz a 3-2 victory over Guatemala in their Concacaf Nations League A, Group B opener at the National Stadium on Friday night.

Oscar Santis gave Guatemala a second minute lead before Kasey Palmer equalised on 37 minutes. Ruman Burrell put the hosts in front only for Santis to draw his side level, paving the way for Cephas to display his heroics.

In other results on the night, Suriname edged Honduras 3-2, while El Salvador outscored Martinique 3-1.

For long stretches, the homeside appeared directionless and unsure of what it wanted to do in possession, while very open and susceptible to the counterattack on defense, thus making victory appear anything but certain.

Santis strikes before Boyz settle

The Guatemalans needed barely two minutes to expose Jamaica’s defensive vulnerability.

He collected the ball near halfway and was allowed to advance virtually unchallenged into the penalty area before driving a low shot underneath goalkeeper and captain Andre Blake.

The early setback could have become worse in the 16th minute.

Santis again found space on the right and delivered for Rudy Munoz, who arrived unmarked at the back post but somehow pushed his three-yard effort wide of Blake’s right-hand post.

Jamaica had already missed a golden opportunity of its own eight minutes earlier.

Rumarn Burrell’s effort was stopped by goalkeeper Kenderson Navarro, but the rebound fell invitingly for Javon East, who missed from six yards. Isaac Hayden then collected the loose ball and fired over from about 20 yards.

The Boyz, struggling to generate sustained attacking pressure, eventually found an unlikely route back into the contest.

Palmer capitalizes on Guatemala mistake

In the 37th minute, Jorge Aparicio’s miscued pass just outside the Guatemalan penalty area presented Kasey Palmer with the opening Jamaica needed.

Palmer reacted quickly, scrambling the ball beyond Navarro to restore parity.

Guatemala nearly answered immediately, with Santis threatening again, but Damion Lowe produced a last-ditch block to prevent the forward from restoring the visitors’ lead.

Palmer then came close to completing the turnaround before halftime, drilling a low effort narrowly beyond the upright.

The momentum had shifted.

Substitutes transform the attack

Head coach Rudolph Speid made an immediate attacking adjustment after the interval, sending Kaheim Dixon and Cephas into the game on the wings.

The changes paid dividends and within seven minutes Dixon created the opening, Palmer delivered a first-time pass, and Burrell finished decisively with a low strike into the far corner in the 53rd minute.

Jamaica had gone from trailing 1-0 to leading 2-1. And more importantly, the team scrapped the wasteful long balls from the back and started using the speed and trickery of the substituted wingers which started to create openings.

Burrell then appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty three minutes later before turning a Cephas cross over the bar from 12 yards.

The Boyz appeared poised to take control, but another defensive lapse brought Guatemala level.

Santis strikes again

Rubio Rubin pounced on a poor Jamaican clearance and immediately released Santis.

The attacker raced through, rounded Blake and calmly finished into the unguarded net to make it 2-2 in the 67th minute.

The goal gave Santis his second of the night and continued his influence against Jamaica. He had also scored Guatemala’s winner when the Central Americans defeated the Boyz 1-0 at last year’s Gold Cup.

Jamaica pressed for a response, but Guatemala finished strongly.

Cephas narrowly missed in the 79th minute, while Olger Escobar came within inches of giving the visitors all three points when his effort in the 89th minute struck the inside of Jamaica’s left post and travelled across the face of goal before being cleared.

Cephas gets the final word

With the match appearing destined for a draw, Jamaica produced one final attacking sequence, and this time Cephas made no mistake.

Four minutes into added time, the ball fell kindly to the winger inside the penalty area after a combination involving Dixon, Hayden and Courtney Clarke opened the route toward goal.

Cephas kept his composure and drilled a low shot beyond Navarro.

The National Stadium erupted as Jamaica completed the turnaround and secured a 3-2 victory that had looked improbable when Santis scored after only two minutes.

The win also offered a measure of redemption after Guatemala’s Gold Cup victory over the Boyz last year.

The Jamaicans will now turn their attention to Monday’s contest against Honduras at the same 7:00 p.m. time and venue.

Teams: Jamaica - Andre Blake, Richard King, Joel Latibeaudiere, Damion Lowe, Tyreece Campbell (Renaldo Cephas 46th), Isaac Hayden, Kasey Palmer (Courtney Clarke 65th), Karoy Anderson, Ronaldo Webster, Ruman Burrell (Bailey Cadamarteri 72nd), Javon East (Kaheim Dixon 46th).

Booked: East (7th), Dixon (51st), King (72nd).

Subs not used: Shaquan Davis, Amal Knight, Tayvon Gray, Brandon Cover, Miguel Freckleton, Christopher Ainsworth, Dwayne Atkinson, Jamone Lyle.

Guatemala: Kenderson Navarro, Jose Morales, Nicolas Samayoa, Allen Yanes, Aaron Herrera, Rudy Munoz (William Fajardo 57th), Jorge Aparicio (Jonathon Franco 83rd), Jose Rosales, Oscar Santis (Olger Escobar 83rd), Darwin Lom, Rubio Rubin (Matthew Evans 77th).

Booked: Lom (1st), Fajardo (84th).

Subs not used: Nicholas Hagen, Luis Moran, Kevin Ruiz, Carlos Estrada, Oscar Castellanos, Stheven Robles, Kevin Ramirez, Cesar Calderon.

Match Officials

Referee: Keylor Herrera (Costa Rica)
Assistant Referee 1: Danny Sojo (Costa Rica)
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Fernandez (Costa Rica)
Fourth Official: Josue Ugalde (Costa Rica)
Match Commissioner: Victor Alfaro (Costa Rica)
Referee Assessor: Nami Imaizumi (Japan)