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Boyz miss penalty in 1-0 loss against US
November 15, 2024
Jamaica's Reggae Boyz suffered a 1-0 defeat in their Concacaf Nation's League quarter-final first-leg football fixture against United States (US) at the National Stadium on Thursday night.
The Reggae Boyz missed a penalty, which was taken by midfielder Demarai Gray.
Jamaica ended the game with 10 players as Mason Holgate was shown the yellow card for a second time at the 86th minute for pushing Brandon Vazquez on the right wing near the half line. Holgate picked up his first booking 10 minutes earlier for kicking Gianluca Busa.
Ricardo Pepi netted the winning goal at the fifth minute for the Americans in their first competitive match under coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Pepi capped off a brilliant build-up play by guiding his chance past the outstretched arms of Andre Blake.
A minute later, Blake was called into action to deny Antonee Robinson.
As the Reggae Boyz tried to grow slowly into the game, striker Shamar Nicholson's trickery provided the team with an outstanding opportunity by way of a penalty.
However, Gray couldn't provide the equaliser as his penalty kick in the 13th minute was superbly saved by US custodian Matt Turner, who palmed the ball away to safety.
In the second half, chances were few and far between for both teams. Jamaica's head coach then called on the pace of the lively Renaldo Cephas as the homesters, playing before a fairly packed stadium, tried to unlock the US' defensive line. Midfielder Tyreek Magee and forward Romario Williams were also brought into the game, but Jamaica could not pull back a goal.
Jamaica's closest chance to walking away with something to smile about would eventually fall to defender Mason Holgate in the 65th minute, but he was beaten to a cross from Cephas in goalmouth, the tackle forcing a corner kick.
The defeat was the first for head coach Steve McClaren since his arrival and the Reggae Boyz' first of the ongoing Concacaf Nations League tournament.
The team will now shift their attention to the second leg of the assignment, which is scheduled for Monday night in St Louis, United States.
Jamaica must win, or else they will be eliminated. The winner will advance to the semi-finals, which will be played on March 20 in Inglewood, California.
The Americans are winners of the first three editions of the Concacaf Nations League.
