MAN OF FEW EQUALS
It is hard to overstate the effect that Andre Blake has on Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz’s output.
Not only is he the captain leading from the front, but as the goalkeeper, he also provides a calming influence at the back as the team’s last line of defence.
Those qualities were again placed on display when he almost single-handedly ensured the Reggae Boyz secured a point off Mexico in their first-leg Concacaf Nations League Group A contest on Tuesday, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate at the National Stadium.
His performance could be considered even more impressive keeping in mind the nervy and shambolic defending from the Jamaicans at times, which resulted in Blake having to deny the Mexicans on numerous occasions.
Still, it was not a bad performance overall by the Jamaicans as they played to their strengths against a Mexican team that was brisk in their build-ups and slippery when transitioning into the final third.
But it was Boyz who hit first through Leon Bailey, in the fourth minute, before Luis Romo’s 45+2 strike pulled Mexico level.
“At home, yeah, I’m disappointed that I was called upon so many times, but I’m happy that I was able to keep more out than what went in. But it’s still a work in progress. The team is still relatively new, so it’s going to take some time but this result is a step in the right direction, so I’m happy for that,” Blake said in a post-game interview.
The stalemate, which was Jamaica’s best against Mexico on home soil in many years, ensured that they remain atop the three-team League A group on five points, one ahead of the Mexicans on four, with Suriname on one.
That along with the fact that they maintained their unbeaten record and closed this international window on a high, Blake, an agile goal-tender who is highly thought of in the confederation, believes is a major confidence booster for the team.
And with continued growth over time, he is confident that his players will be ready to face down the challenge that awaits them in next year’s return leg in Mexico,
“We are going to have to go there in a very tough environment, but hopefully we can go there and play our game and steal some points and win the group,” Blake said.
“But we have to work on our confidence, moving the ball and pressing as a team and that’s all going to take time because, as I said before, the team is relatively new and the more games we play and the more we are together those little things will fall in place, so it’s a good look and we are going to keep building,” he added.
For now though, the outstanding Philadelphia Union goalkeeper in Major League Soccer, will return to club duties feeling accomplished, knowing that his Reggae Boyz team is safe for the next Concacaf Gold Cup.
“I’m feeling good. It was a very good performance from me tonight (Tuesday) and I’m happy for that. Now it’s time to go back to my club and, hopefully, I can keep building on this,” Blake noted.
He first kept out Luis Chavez’s second-minute right-footed effort diving away to his left and then denied Kevin Alvarez, who found space for a shot from deep inside the 18-yard box.
Though he was beaten by Romo’s header from Chavez’s freekick on the stroke of the break, Blake was not intent on being beaten again.
The Clarendon native denied substitute Diego Lainez twice in the 67th and 80th minutes and in between those efforts, squeezed out Uriel Antuna’s left-footed 74th minute shot from close range.
Having now signalled their intentions, Blake stressed that it is now a matter of riding the momentum going forward.
“It’s kinda sad to give up a goal at that point [right before the break], but nonetheless we are happy for the point. There is a lot of good that we can take from this game and there are also some things that we didn’t do well, but we are going to work on it and we are going to keep going,” he noted.