JAMAICA’S REGGAE Boyz marched into the third round of the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers as group winners after beating Guatemala 3-0 in their final Group E game at the National Stadium, thanks to a brace from Warner Brown.
The Jamaicans opened the scoring after 26 minutes through Jon Russell, before Brown (37th and 73rd) added goals in either half, to seal a well-deserved win.
Jamaica ended on top of Group E with maximum 12 points, three more than second-place Guatemala, who they play again in six days’ time at the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Coach Steve McClaren could not hide his satisfaction after the game, describing it as a complete performance by his team.
“It was a perfect result for us. Three goals, a cleansheet, 60 per cent possession, 18 shots, nine on target. We looked a threat.
“We were very disciplined, very organised and very aggressive. We got that shape. We won the ball, that’s our strength, the speed we have on transition.
“The build-up, we were so patient, we knew what to do on the right and what to do on the left. So it’s progress, a little bit of what we did similar in the Unity Cup in terms of performance from the players,” he said.
After three matches without a win and a goal inside the National Stadium, McClaren said it was important they won in front of the home fans.
“We had to win here. We had to show the Jamaican crowd that we could win here. We want to make it the start of a fortress. We wanted that.
“We wanted to win the game because we want to stay in Pot One for the draw, which was important. We are delighted to finish top. And certain individuals came to the fore. And now that’s the standard that we want every game. So it was highly satisfactory,” he continued.
After a slow start by both teams, the visitors had the first chance at goal after 10 minutes, but Andre Blake was equal to Arquimides Ordonez shot from 12 yards.
Jon Russell produced the home team’s first attempt but his curling left foot effort was no trouble for Nicholas Hagen in goal.
Moments later, Brown threatened but just missed getting a touch to Renaldo Cephas’ low cross.
However, the Arnett Gardens striker should have given the Boyz the lead in the 21st minute, when the ball dropped kindly for him from a corner but he blasted over from six yards.
Russell would give the Boyz a well-deserved lead when he rose above the Guatemala defence to head Leon Bailey’s cross past Hagen in goal.
Brown had another good opportunity to get on to the scoresheet but he could not keep his header down, from another Cephas cross.
Bailey then forced Hagen into action, with the Guatemalan shot-stopper parrying a curling shot from the winger for a corner.
Jamaica would get a second goal in the 36th minute through Brown, who was the first to react after Hagen saved Bailey’s penalty, after Demarai Gray was fouled in the area.
The Reggae Boyz continued where they left off after the break and Cephas again provided chances for Brown, who headed over, and Richard King, whose volley was saved by the post.
Isaac Hayden then came close with a strike from the edge of the box in the 65th minute.
Two minutes later, Brown had a glorious chance to add a third after he stole possession just outside the box, but he could not beat Hagen, who was quick off his line.
The Jamaica Premier League’s topscorer, Brown, would get his second and Jamaica’s third in the 73rd minute, turning home from a Gray corner at the near post.
McClaren was full of praise for his number nine, who turned up trumps once again.
“We needed energy from our number nine. Warner came up the last two games and this one, especially, and shows that you need a nine to be able to press.
“What I like about Warner is whenever the ball is in the box, he is in the box. He’s in the middle of the goal, so he is always a threat,” McClaren stated.
With seven minutes to go, Ordonez forced Blake into his only save of the second half with a strike from the top of the box, which the Jamaican goalkeeper pushed around his post.
Burrell then had a great chance to put the game to bed in the final minute but his weak shot was saved by Hagen.
