Renaldo Cephas’ added time goal secured a 3-2 win for the Reggae Boyz in their opening Concacaf Nations League, League A, Group B match against Guatemala, at the National Stadium last night.
Oscar Santis put Guatemala in front after just two minutes, but Kacey Palmer equalised for Jamaica in the 37th minute.
Rumarn Burrell put the Boyz ahead 11 minutes into the second half, but Santis tied the game 2-2 with his second of the night in the 67th minute.
However, with the game heading for a draw, Cephas popped up with the winner three minutes into added time to give the Boyz a dramatic win.
Jamaica lead the group with maximum three points, ahead of Honduras and Suriname, who drew 2-2.
Most fans had hardly settled in their seats when Santis broke away, and dribbled unchallenged almost from the half line into the 18-yard area, before slotting past Andre Blake in goal.
The Reggae Boyz came close to an equaliser in the 10th minute but Burrell’s effort was saved by goalkeeper Kenderson Navarro, Javon East then missed the rebound from six yards and Isaac Hayden rifled the loose ball over from 20 yards.
Guatemala should have added a second in the 18th minute when Santis found acres of room down the right and picked out Rudy Munoz, who inexplicably put the ball wide from three yards.
Seized the moment
The Jamaicans were looking short of ideas, but got back in the contest by a hit of fortune, when Jorge Aparicio played a loose pass on top of his area and Palmer seized the moment and scrambled the ball past Navarro in goal.
Santis had a great chance to restore Guatemala’s lead minutes later, but a last-ditch block by Damion Lowe averted the danger.
Palmer then drilled a low effort just wide of the upright, as the hosts ended the half on a high.
At the start of the second half Jamaica coach Rudolph Speid introduced Kaheim Dixon and Renaldo Cephas on the wings and their impact was almost instant.
In the 53rd minute, Dixon created an opening and Palmer slipped a first-time ball to Burrell, who buried a low shot into the far corner.
Burrell then had a good shout for a penalty in the 56th but referee waved play on. Moments later he turned a Cephas cross over, from 12 yards.
Guatemala would level the game soon after, when Rubio Rubin took advantage of a poor clearance and sent Santis through on goal and the diminutive attacker rounded Blake to tie the score at 2-2.
The Guatemalans finished the game strong and nearly had a winner in the 89th minute, but Olger Escobar shot hit the inside of the post and came back across goal before the ball was cleared.
However, the Boyz would have the last laugh, as three minutes into added time the ball fell kindly to Cephas just inside the box and the winger drilled a low shot past Navarro for the game’s winning goal.
livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com
