Reggae Boyz whip Cayman in Nations League opener

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz barely broke a sweat as they turned in a dominant display to thrash the Cayman Islands 4-0 in their opening match in the CONCACAF League of Nations encounter at the National Stadium last evening.

Darren Mattocks (2nd and 58th) and Cory Burke (35th and 66th) both scored braces for the Boyz, who were coming off a 2-0 loss to South American team Ecuador in a friendly international in New York last Friday.

Despite dominating the first period, the Jamaicans only had two goals to show against their neighbours, who kept all their 11 players behind the ball for the entire half, as they looked to frustrate the hosts.

When Mattocks gave the Jamaicans the lead shortly after the kick-off by heading in a Owayne Gordon left-sided cross, it seemed the floodgates would open right away, but the Jamaicans were made to wait for their next goal.

Gordon, who had an excellent game for the Reggae Boyz, also assisted on the hosts second goal, putting the ball on a platter for Burke to score into an empty goal. Jamaica's custodian and captain Andre Blake had little to do in the first stanza, as The Cayman Islands team failed to register a shot on target.

NEAT FINISH

Mattocks, who plies his trade for DC United in Major League Soccer, bagged his second goal of the match 13 minutes into the second period, when he headed home a cross from the returning Adrian Mariappa. Burke, who also plies his trade in the MLS for the Philadelphia Union, scored his second goal of the match with a neat finish from 12 yards out.

Substitute Alex Marshall, playing in his first match for the Reggae Boyz at the National Stadium, came close to scoring 10 minutes later, but after dribbling his way past three defenders, his skied his effort from 10 yards out with the goalkeeper at his mercy.

The Reggae Boyz had to play the final 17 minutes of the match with 10 players after substitute Javon East was forced off with an ankle injury.

Jamaica will travel to Curacao on October 14 to take Bonaire in their second match of the tournament. They will then host Suriname at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on November 14.