PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Michael Hector, the 23-year-old Jamaica defender, has stood up like a man and taken full responsibility for the errors he made that ultimately cost the Reggae Boyz a historic chance at the CONCACAF Gold Cup title.

In the final against Mexico at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, the Reading FC player made two nightmarish mistakes he will soon want to forget.

In the first blunder, Hector fumbled the ball just outside the 18-yard box, and was quickly dispossessed by a lurking Jesus Corona who beat Jamaica goalie Ryan Thompson with a low shot to his left.

In the second cock-up, a cross from Paul Aguilar inside slipped through Hector’s legs as he tried to control, and Oribe Peralta was present to beat Thompson from 12 yards in minute 61.

Mattocks, on as a 60th-minute substitute, replied for Jamaica to complete the 3-1 score-line.

“The guys certainly don’t deserve to go out like this, we have played well in the tournament and this is a hard one to take. Obviously, the mistakes cost us, but we have done our country proud as not many people thought we would get this far,” said Hector after the game.

“It’s a proud moment for the country as the first Caribbean team to make the final, so yes, we have positives to take from this and this team can go far in the future, and hopefully we can do that, and hopefully we can make another final and win it this time,” he added.

Hector, recognising that his errors had cost his team, had to be consoled on the field after the final whistle and later in the locker room.

“It’s just sadness and disappointment, and I feel it for the other players and I told them in the changing room that I am sorry for my mistakes that cost the goals as they didn’t deserve this in a final.

“But I think it’s going to make us stronger as a team as we have a good team spirit and a brotherhood, but in the next few days or weeks, we are going to look back at this tournament and take the positives and to be proud of what we have done and have achieved,” Hector told reporters, fighting to hold back tears.

After Jamaica went up to the stage and collected their medals, Hector remained at the scene of his tragic evening, while his teammates disappeared to the changing rooms.

But he did it all for a reason.

“I wanted to watch them lift the trophy, to make me realise what I have done and to never be in that situation again. I think that’s why I stayed out there and watched them lift the trophy and celebrated, I wanted to feel the pain of what it feels like to lose in a final,” said Hector, who has clearly taken his infamous mistakes hard.

Hector, who replaced an injured Jermaine Taylor in the El Salvador group game in Toronto, had settled into the central defensive position, partnering Wes Morgan, creditably for the most part.

He also had an outstanding stint in the Chile Copa America in June, playing in all three games while Taylor watched from the bench.

— Sean Williams