Reggae Boyz captain stresses need for goals
NATIONAL senior men’s football team captain, Andre Blake says the Reggae Boyz must be clinical in front of goal in the second leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals.
Jamaica meet the United States in St Louis, Missouri, on Monday at 8:00 pm, looking to overturn a 1-0 aggregate score from the first leg in Kingston on Thursday.
Ricardo Pepi scored for the US in the fifth minute of that game.
The Jamaicans have only themselves to blame for Thursday’s defeat as they had several opportunities to equalise but were unable to convert. The clearest chance came in the 14th minute, when they were awarded a penalty after US goalkeeper Matt Turner brought down Shamar Nicholson. Demarai Gray stepped up to take the spot kick but Turner saved the effort.
Blake said the players are fully aware of the task ahead and are prepared to give their best for the nation.
“We know what we have to do on Monday because playing there, we are always going to be in the game,” he said. “Based on the away-goal rule, and because they only got one goal here, if we get two over there then it’s a different game.
“It’s far from over because we’re still in it but, obviously, we would have loved to have a clean sheet heading into Monday’s match. Goals win games but at the National Stadium it is not going in for us. But once it starts to go in, we are going to be on a roll — so we have to go out and score some goals in this match.”
The Reggae Boyz have never scored in any of their three home matches under Head Coach Steve McClaren, who was appointed in July.
“We know what we have to do there, and we’re going out to give our best,” Blake said. “These tough times can either make you or break you, and we’re not going to give up. We’re going to keep fighting.”
Reflecting on Thursday’s defeat, Blake expressed disappointment that the team did not score, despite having several chances.
“I think we were unlucky; and honestly, I think this is the best football we have played at the stadium in a while,” he said. “The US is a really good opponent, and I feel like at some points we dominated. But, for whatever reason, we still can’t score at the National Stadium.
“But the team is still relatively new, and we’re still learning from each other. The coach is still figuring out the best positions for players and the best formation so it is work in progress, and we just have to keep working.”
