Lembikisa laser fires Jamaica to Nations League third place

ARLINGTON, Texa (Concacaf):

Dexter Lembikisa's first-half laser fired Jamaica to a 1-0 victory against Panama in the third-place match of the Concacaf Nations League yesterday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States of America.

With the victory, Jamaica became the first from the Caribbean to finish on the podium in the Concacaf Nations League. It is Jamaica's fourth win against Panama in history and the first since the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-finals.

It was a quiet start from Jamaica and Panama; but, things came to life in the 19th minute, when Jamaica's Shamar Nicholson had two excellent cracks at goal, but was denied by Panama's goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera and then had his follow-up cleared off the goal-line.

Mosquera had to be alert again in the 29 minute, diving to his right to parry a Demarai Gray shot to safety.

At the third time of asking, Jamaica would get the breakthrough on a sizzling shot from outside the area by Lembikisa, who hauled in a pass, cut to his left and fired into the top left corner of the net in the 41st for a 1-0 Jamaica lead. It was Lembikisa's first goal with Jamaica.

Panama tried to respond before halftime and had a great look at goal through Jose Rodriguez, only for Jamaica's goalkeeper Andre Blake to make the necessary stop.

Jamaica had no plans to sit back and absorb pressure in the second half. They came out searching for a goal and almost got a second in the 60th minute when a Damion Lowe chip bounced off the crossbar.

Time was running out on Panama, as they sought to pressure the Jamaican defence in search of an equaliser.

It turned out that Blake did not have much to do in the final minutes, as the Jamaican midfield and defence put the clamps down on the Panama attack to secure the clean-sheet victory.

concacaf.com