The Reggae Boyz escaped with a hard fought 2-1 win over Honduras in Tuesday’s Concacaf Nations League Group B game at the Nacional Chelato Ucles in Tegucigalpa.

A second half penalty from Michail Antonio secured the win — the first of the Steve McClaren era — for the Jamaicans which saw them climb to a tie on four points at the top of the group with Nicaragua.

It was Antonio’s fifth goal for Jamaica as they made up for Friday’s 0-0 draw against 10-man Cuba at home.

Jamaica’s goalkeeper Andre Blake was outstanding throughout the game, especially in the second half where he made a series of saves to keep his team in the game.

After a bruising first half, Jamaica took the lead in the 49th minute when a low hard cross from Norman Campbell was turned past his own goalkeeper by Honduran defender Denil Maldonado.

The scores were tied a minute later, however, when David Ruiz-Ochoa managed to find the low right hand corner of the Jamaican goal, through a crowd of defenders.

Mexican referee Victor Caceres Hernandez awarded a spot kick after Antonio was brought down in the Honduran penalty area by goalkeeper Luis Lopez and the striker finished off what he started with a well placed spot kick into the right corner.

Jamaica will next face Honduras at home in the October International window.

-Paul A Reid