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McClaren pleased Reggae Boyz delivered - McCalla’s goal gives Jamaica 1-0 win over T&T in opening international friendly
February 07, 2025
A LONE goal from Sue-Lae McCalla lifted the Reggae Boyz to a 1-0 win over their Caribbean archrivals Soca Warriors in an international friendly football match at Montego Bay Sports Complex on Thursday night.
In a game that was lacklustre in the initial stages but became quite intense towards the end, Jamaica's took the lead in the 80th minute with a moment of brilliance by McCalla, who flicked a header to score. It was his first international goal.
Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren said Jamaica deserved the win.
"I never thought we would concede because they dominated and that's important to get that platform. I thought the subs who came on really kind of changed the game and gave us energy," McClaren told STAR Sports.
"They wanted to win, we are here to win. I said to the players, I want to see smiles at the end of the game from the players, from their families, from the supporters, and we are pleased to deliver that. Hopefully on Sunday we'll replicate it," added McClaren.
It was the first time since 2014 that Jamaica defeated Trinidad and Tobago on home soil.
With his fourth cap for Jamaica and registering his first international goal, McCalla said it was a wonderful feeling.
"It's a tremendous feeling, you know, to get the first goal for your country. The crowd came out and we got a lot of support tonight. As a player, my job is to keep on doing what I'm doing," he remarked.
"When the coach calls on me, I just want to be ready to stay fit and hope that I get selected and go out there and put my best foot forward," McCalla added.
Meanwhile, Dwight Yorke, head coach for Trinidad & Tobago, was pleased with the performance of the players.
"I thought it was good game, and I expected it to be competitive, which it was again, another opportunity to see (the players). Jamaica is obviously ahead of us in the ranking. Our target was to try and match them to see how far the gap is between the two teams," Yorke said.
"We're fairly confident in terms of the outcome of the game, although the result didn't go our way.
"I'm very, very happy. I know the result, a lot of people are going to be looking at the results, but I'm very happy with where things have gone tonight," he noted.
"We have a bigger vision in terms of where we're trying to get to, and we continue to build. And this is a really good step for us. I loved the competitiveness and the attitude from the players," he added.
The second international friendly between Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago will be on Sunday at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, beginning at 8 p.m.
