U20 Reggae Boyz beat Bonaire 3-0 in opening Concacaf qualifier
Jamaica made a winning start to the Concacaf Under-20 qualifiers with a 3-0 win over Bonaire in their Group B game played at Stadion Rignaal ‘Jean’ Francisca in Willemstad, Curaçao on Monday.
With the victory, the young Reggae Boyz lead the group on goal-difference after 2-1 wins for Turks and Caicos Islands over Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico over St Kitts Nevis in the other matches.
However, the Jamaicans finished the game with 10 players after second-half substitute Jamoy Dennis was sent off after picking up two yellow yards.
Sean Leighton, Deshawn Talbert and substitute Raequan Campbell-Dennis were the scorers for Jamaica who led 2-0 at half time.
Leighton headed the ball across the goal line from close range in the 24th minute before Talbert added a second in the 43rd minute. Campbell-Dennis added the third goal in the 71st minute to kill the game off as a contest.
The U20 Reggae Boyz will be back in action on Wednesday against the Turks and Caicos Islands at 7pm.
The tournament will serve as qualification for the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship, the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, and 2027 Pan American Games.
-Paul A Reid