Kingston | Jamaica
Jamaica kick start their Concacaf Nations League campaign defeating Guatemala 3-2 last night at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.
The hosts got off to the worst possible start going down 1-nil in the second minute of play, thanks to a fantastic counter-attacking goal by Oscar Santos for Guatemala.
For 30 minutes Jamaica looked disorganized, with numerous aimless long passes from defense to attack, which were all handled with consummate ease by the Guatemalan defense.
It took poor back pass from midfielder Jorge Aparicio to goalkeeper Kenderson Navarro in minute 37 to gift Kasey Palmer the ball, and he sliced home past the advancing goalkeeper. The half ended 1-1.
With a half-time team talk and a few substitutions, Jamaica came out looking more certain and purposeful, and in minute 53, Rumam Burrell found the net with a clinically taken team goal.
Guatemala continued the fight and with both teams jostling for positions, Oscar Santos got his second goal of the game. Damion Lowe’s poor clearance found the feet of Darwin Lom whose one-time pass found the darting run of Santos. Santos with composure dribbled around advancing Blake in the Jamaican goal and found the empty net.
With the game heading for a draw, Jamaica had other ideas and with good interplay Kaheim Dixon’s strong and skillful run found Issac Hayden. Hayden’s one-time pass was met with a one-time glance by Courtney Clarke to Renaldo Cephas’ and his one-time shot flew through the legs of two Guatemalan defenders and beat their custodian, giving Jamaica 3-points in minute 90+ 4.
LGS
