KINGSTON, Jamaica-Jamaica, paced by a four-timer from Rohan Reid, pounded Puerto Rico 7-3 in their opening Group A game of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship in El Salvador yesterday. 

Daemion Benjamin, captain Andre Reid and Gregory Simpson added to Jamaica’s tally.

The two teams started out fast and alternated goals, until late in the second period when Jamaica seemed to hit another gear and began hitting goals to put their opponents in too big a whole to climb out of.

The win is great for Jamaica as they will need all the wins they can get, being in the same group as the hosts, El Salvador. Jamaica will play Belize today, while Puerto Rico will take on El Salvador, looking for their first win. 

Jamaica led early until just past halfway through the first period when Puerto Rico equalised. The two sides exchanged late goals in the period and the opening 12 minutes ended tied at two goals. 

Jamaica broke the tie and then went up by two goals, at 4-2 to end the second stanza. 

With everything to do, the Puerto Ricans spent much of the opening minutes of the final period on the attack, but Jamaica were prepared and kept them off the board going into the middle of the period. The Puerto Ricans tried to mount a comeback, but right after they got a goal back, Jamaica would strike again, before winning 7-3.

In other results yesterday, The Bahamas defeated Barbados 10-4 in Group C and Trinidad and Tobago doubled Guadeloupe 8-4.