SAO PAULO, Brazil — A spirited Jamaica National Under-17 team went down 2-3 to Saltense Under-18 in their opening match of their eight-game tour schedule at Porto Felix here yesterday.

The young Reggae Boyz, who are preparing for the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers in February, showed character, battling back from two goals down, but conceded a late goal against the run of play.

Goals by Barro Coutinho Erick (16th minute), Sergio Mario (29th) and Luiz de Almeida Jorge (86th) sealed the win for the young Brazilians, who are preparing for their Copa Sao Paulo Junior Championship, which starts in two weeks’ time.

Melvin Blair of Manning High in the 39th minute and Andre Lewis of St George’s College in the 68th minute replied for Jamaica.

Head coach Wendell Downswell, decided to start without his proven players to have a look at the new boys and he would have been disappointed after falling two goals behind before the half-hour mark, and especially after working on his defensive tactics during the last two training sessions.

Said Downswell: “What we did in the first half is used the players that we didn’t see play against Canada and used the opportunity to look at them and see where they are and the quality work we need to do with them”.

“We have seen at least five players emerged like Blair who scored, Quante (Smith, Canadian based), goalkeeper Clarke, young Johnson and Flemming while the others, we have to put in the work to get them up to that satisfactory level,” said Downswell.

The experienced coach said he was looking to get “at least 15 players at a satisfactory level” in two weeks’ time.

“To play against a team of this magnitude, augurs well for us especially since they scored against the run of play when we brought on our senior players,” he continued.

Downswell started with Odean Clarke of Muschette High from Trelawny in goal with Oshane Jenkins (St George’s College), Jason Jacobs (STETHS), Shane Hardie (Taft School, Connecticut, USA), Canadian-based pair of Quante Smith and Shawn Lawson, Jevani Brown (Milton Key Dons, England), Melvin Blair (Mannings High), Noel Johnson (Glenmuir High) and Romane Brown of Muschett High.

The Jamaicans started tentatively and fell behind after Erick, wearing the number 10 shirt for the Brazilian club, opened the scoring in the 16th minute following a slip by the towering centre half, Hardie, standing at six feet, five inches.

Saltense doubled their advantage in the 29th minute following a well-worked free-kick drill which opened up the Jamaican backline for Sergio Mario to tap home.

But in the 39th minute, Blair put some spring in the feet of the young Boyz by beating a defender and firing home from just inside the box.

The visitors finished the half more confident and resumed strongly with the introduction of captain Omar Holness and his Wolmer’s teammates Kemo Wallace, Jason Wright and Patrick Palmer. Also, the no-nonsense Alvas Powell (Paul Bogle) and Romario Jones (St George’s), were brought in and that the young Boyz looked a better bunch.

The Jamaicans took total control with the impressive Powell stabilising the backline, along with Eric Vernan look-a-like Palmer at right back, setting the tone for the team to push forward.

The Boyz found the deserved equaliser in the 68th minute after good work by Holness down the right flank, who crossed for Lewis to tap home.

Jamaica continued to dominate, pressing for the win, but Saltense struck from a free-kick which took a deflection and substitute Jorge reacted quickest and slotted home.

But it was a good start for the Jamaicans with a lot of encouraging signs.

“This has done a lot for the confidence of the staff and the players and right now the result doesn’t really matter. We are just continuing the preparation,” Downswell outlined.

The Jamaicans will play their second friendly match against UNIAO Sao Joao De Araras today at 4:00 pm (1:00 pm Jamaican time), 74 miles away from the academy.