Reggae Boyz get by Honduras 1-0 in Nations League opener
Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz defeated Honduras 1-0 in their Concacaf Nations League opening match on Friday evening.
The game, played at the National Stadium in Kingston, was head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson’s first competitive one in front of home fans.
Jamaica’s goal came in the 64th minute through winger Demarai Gray, who now has his third in six international appearances.
Jamaica thought they had the lead six minutes into the game when Bobby Decordova-Reid beat Honduras goalkeeper Edrick Menjívar but his celebration was cut short by the assistant referee who flagged for offside.
Jamaica struggled to take control of the game and gave away the ball cheaply in midfield but Honduras, who had more of the ball in the first half, were not lethal with their chances.
Striker Dujuan Richards also came close for Jamaica just before halftime but saw his shot ricochet off the far post.
The second half continued in a similar fashion to the first, but Jamaica broke the deadlock when a fast break by Decordova-Reid advanced the ball upfield. He played a well-timed pass down the left for Gray who used his pace against Honduras right back Maylor Nunez, who proved an impediment to Menjívar who was unsighted when Gray powerfully played his shot inside the far post.
The win moves Jamaica to three points and top of Group B in League A, as the other games on the evening between Haiti and Cuba, and Grenada and Suriname ended 0-0 and 1-1 respectively.
Jamaica will be back at the National Stadium on Tuesday to face Haiti at 7 pm.