BY HOWARD WALKER

Observer staff reporter

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — Jamaica Under-17s head coach Andrew Edwards remained upbeat after the young Reggae Boyz suffered a setback in their World Cup hopes, crashing 0-2 to hosts Honduras on Friday night.

“We are not daunted because there are still 12 points to play for and we can still win the group or get second or third place and enter the play-offs,” said Edwards moments after the defeat.

Jamaica, who started tentatively, surrendered a 12th-minute goal scored by Darixon Vuelto after his initial header deflected into his path and he reacted quickest to hook the ball home.

“I thought we started well and played pretty much to instructions and we played to the plan that we wanted to play to and I thought the first Honduran goal was very fortunate,” Edwards noted.

The young Reggae Boyz took some time before getting into their strides and finished the first half strongly. Nicholas Nelson fired high from just outside the box in the 33rd minute before Nathaniel Adamolekun chipped his effort into the side netting after latching onto a Javain Brown pass in the 35th minute. Then seconds later, captain Shandel Senior saw his ferocious 25-metre drive parried for a corner by goalkeeper Michael Parello.

“We were a little bit slow in terms of going forward, however, we didn’t create as many chances in the early part of the game, but we could have got the equaliser before the end of the half,” Edwards added.

Jamaica came out with the same intensity for the second period and went close in the 55th minute, as Nicholas Nelson fired inches wide of the upright before Dawkins’ long-range effort was turned around nervously by the Honduran custodian for a corner in the 69th minute as Jamaica bossed possession in a dominant second-half display.

But with the equalising goal looking imminent, Jamaica fell further behind after Jorge Alvarez took advantage of a defensive mix-up and slotted home in the 78th minute, totally against the run of play.

“We came in at half-time, put together a nice plan and I thought for the first 15-20 minutes we had Honduras pinned down again and we couldn’t score from numerous chances created. We were a little bit hurried and in some instances afraid. Overall, our performance was quite admirable,” remarked Edwards.

“I don’t think we can knock ourselves down for the performance today. The second goal came a bit against the run of play. We were really up on Honduras and made one mistake at the back. But this is what it is about at the international level. The critical mistakes are what the opposition capitalises on,” he continued.

“But we can take a lot of positives out of the game and we can take a lot of heart from it. We will go back home, look at the tape, look at our analysis and plan accordingly for the next game.”

Tomorrow Jamaica will play Guatemala, who defeated Trinidad and Tobago 4-1, while the United States of America whipped Cuba 5-0 and are on top of Group A on goal difference.

Teams: Jamaica — Jahmali White, Javain Brown, Atoniel Mullings (Donovan Dawkins 46th), Jahwani Hinds, Ajeanie Talbott, Shandel Senior, Peter Vassell, Tajea Brown (Fabian Grant 46th), Nicholas Nelson, Alex Marshall, Nathaniel Adamolekun (Deshane Beckford 75th).

Subs not used: Akeem Chambers, Zaire Barthley, Hakim Williams, Jahlanie Hammond, Chris-Andrew Dixon, Demar James.

Booked: Javain Brown (20th), Deshane Beckford (81st)

Coach: Andrew Edwards

Honduras — Michael Parello, Victor Matamoros, Wesly Decas, Allan Rivera, Dylan Andrade, Jorge Alvarez (Jose Raul Galeano 82nd), Foslyn Grant, Erick Arias, Darixon Vuelto, Oscar Castro, Kevin Castro.

Subs not used: Jose Aguiluz, Oslin Sevilla, Wisdom Quaye, David Sanchez, Jeancario Vargas, Denil Maldonado, Gabriel Ortiz, Darwin Diego.

Booked: Allan Rivera (62nd), Victor Matamoros (90th+3)

Coach: Jose Valladares

Referee: Kimbell Ward (St Kitts)

Assistant Referees: Ricardo Ake (Belize), Gabriel Victoria (Panama)

Fourth Official: Adrian Skeete (Barbados)

Match Commissary: Egbert Lacle (Aruba)

Jamaica’s Alex Marshall (right) holds off Foslyn Grant of Honduras during their CONCACAF Under-17 Championship in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Friday. Looking on is Nathaniel Adamolekun. Jamaica lost 0-2. (PHOTOS: DELMER MARTINEZ).

Foslyn Grant (centre) of Honduras splits the Jamaica pair of Antoneil Mullings (left) and Tajea Brown during their CONCACAF Under-17 Championship in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on Friday.

Jamaica’s assistant coach Omar Edwards (second left) gives instructions to the players during a break in play. At left is head coach Andrew Edwards.