Boyz smash-and-grab in Honduras

It was an intense fixture last night at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Ucles as Jamaica took home their first three points of the Concacaf Nations League when they edged Honduras 2-1 and moved atop Group B of League A.

An own goal from Denil Maldonado and a penalty from Michail Antonio secured the win for the Boyz while David Ruiz scored the consolation goal for the Central Americans.

The Boyz opened the scoring in the second half through a combination of individual brilliance and unfortunate defending. Norman Campbell got the better of his marker out wide before his cross into the box was turned into the Honduran goal by a mistimed clearance by Maldonado.

Jamaican fans would have still been celebrating their first goal when Honduras pulled the game level just seconds later.

Immediately from kick-off, the Hondurans pressured the Jamaican defence with Ruiz toeing in the equaliser after a goalmouth scramble.

Buoyed by their fans, Honduras would take the gear to another level as they applied waves of pressure against a resolute Jamaican defence.

It would be the Caribbean outfit, however, who made the breakthrough against the run of play as Antonio stepped up from 12 yards out to slot home a penalty.

With just a few minutes left on the clock, Honduras went searching for the equaliser and almost found it but were thwarted by the safe gloves of captain and custodian Andre Blake.

The result means Jamaica leapfrogged Honduras as group leaders with four points from two games and now sit level with Nicaragua who played out a 1-1 draw with Cuba.

Honduras have fallen to third in the group on three points ahead of Cuba who sit fourth on two points.

At the foot of table are the pair of French Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago who share a point each from their games in the September window of the Nations League.

The teams will return back to action next month when Jamaica will face Nicaragua away on October 10 before a return date with Honduras at the National Stadium on October 14.