Head coach of Jamaica’s senior national men’s football team, Heimir Hallgrimsson, has bemoaned his team’s misfortune despite playing to a 2-2 result with Mexico in their CONCACAF Nations League Group A of League A match inside the Estadio Azteca on Sunday night.
“I think we were unlucky, we had really good openings, we used the space behind Mexico so we had a lot of good counter-attacks; we had really good set-pieces which we should have scored from, so I would say we are disappointed that we did not score more than two goals,” Hallgrimsson told the media at game’s end.
He continued: “Of course Mexico had their chances as well, but I think we had more open chances, clear-cut chances which is down to details, maybe more working together to finish these attacks.”
With the result, Mexico moved to eight points from their four games, two ahead of Jamaica who had one win and three draws, with Suriname finishing at the foot of the three-team table with a solitary point.
Mexico thus advanced to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League League A competition where they will await the other three group winners.
For finishing second Jamaica booked their ticket to the CONCACAF Gold Cup Tournament slated for later this year.
Fulham’s Bobby Reid gave Jamaica a shock lead in seven minutes when he volleyed home a 25-yard screamer after goalkeeper Jahmali White and punted a long goal kick which was flicked on by striker Shamar Nicholson to Jamal Lowe, who flicked inside for the onrushing Reid to silence the packed Azteca crowd.
Lowe could have and should have doubled the lead two minutes later but he failed to control the ball from inside the six-yard area.
The hosts pulled level on 17 minutes when Orbelin Pineda slotted home from close range after a left-sided deflected cross from Hirving Lozano of Napoli.
The goals continued to flow and Jamaica was back in front for a second time when a Reid left-sided corner went in off Edson Alvarez thigh for an own goal.
Pleas were halted for bad weather for about 20 minutes and when it resumed Mexico smashed the ball against the crossbar when Lozano unleashed a pile driver.
He was rewarded on the stroke of halftime when Ravel Morrison committed a foul on Henry Martin inside the penalty area and the Napoli winger made no mistake driving the ball home down the middle of the goal to pull the team’s level.
It was only the second time that Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz was earning a point at the Azteca, following on Theodore Whitmore side which earned a 0-0 result in a World Cup qualifier over a decade ago.
Hallgrimsson was disappointed with the result. “We are just disappointed because we did not win and we wanted to go to the semi-finals of the Nations League,” he said.
And he admitted that the hosts were always difficult to beat, especially at home. “They are always a difficult team to play against because of their individual quality and acceleration, speed, and quick actions, so they are difficult to play against.
“The Mexico starting 11 was more or less the same that played the World Cup, so they are much more synchronized in what they are doing because they know each other pretty well.
“I watched them in the World Cup and they deserve to go through from the group phase because they play really good matches, but it is always difficult to play them especially here in this altitude and in this atmosphere with its fantastic fans.”
The second half created many scoring opportunities but neither team was capable of taking them on the day. Nicholson went close with a backpost head which brought out a spectacular reflex save from veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Substitute Diego Lainez had a deflected shot slam against the goal frame, and Jamaica saw a couple of chances and openings go abegging as well.
Hallgrimsson admits that is was always difficult to play against one of the region’s class teams.
“It is one of the powerhouses in CONCACAF so we knew it was going to be a difficult match, but I think we did some good things, but we are starting a journey together and I know we need to improve a lot of things still, but the good thing about this match for us is that it shows even though we go away and play in a difficult stadium like Azteca, we can still get something from the game.”
The Icelander has no illusions about the task at hand and he’s aware that he has to be patient while at the same time urging to the country to exercise some patience with the development of the team.
“This is my first official match, but we are just starting a long journey so we are trying to improve a lot of things, trying to change a lot of things. This will take time, I have to be patient and Jamaica has to be patient, but given the quality of the players I think we can be a very, very good team and not only reach the World Cup [Finals] but I think we can do good things in the World Cup in 2026.
“But there are a lot of tournaments until then, we are starting a journey, now we have to try to find players, to select players who we want to have on the bus on this long journey to 2026 and this is like the beginning for us, the coaches.”
