Spartak Moscow’s Nicholson spurred by memory of goal against Mexico
SHAMAR Nicholson has fond memories of his goal against Mexico during the World Cup qualifiers and the Reggae Boyz striker, by all indications, is intent on repeating the feat when they meet in their first-leg Concacaf Nations League encounter at the National Stadium today.
Nicholson remembers the goal clearly, a sweet, left-footed drive from just inside the 18-yard box that pulled the Boyz level at 1-1 before they conceded another late goal in the 1-2 defeat in Mexico City.
The 25-year-old, who recently assisted his club Spartak Moscow to the Russia Cup, is again expected to carry the bulk of the goalscoring responsibilities against the Mexicans, and he is hopeful the reproduction of that effort will be in a winning cause on this occasion.
“It is an important game and it will also be a very difficult one but for me, personally, I always believe that anything is possible and we just have to work as a team to make it happen,” Nicholson told the Jamaica Observer.
“My job is to score goals so, as always, that’s what I intend to do. But overall the guys have been showing some intensity in training and everyone is looking sharp. We are motivated and the focus is there so we just need to go out and execute. For me, I’ve put a few pieces together in training where scoring is concerned and I’ll just try to turn it over in the game — so I’m just looking forward to it,” he added.
Jamaica’s last win against Mexico — a 1-0 scoreline — was in 2017 at the Concacaf Gold Cup, while their two meetings in the World Cup qualifiers ended 2-1 in favour of “El Tri”, who will again start favourites here.
With this being his second game back after a self-imposed break from national duties, coupled with the fact that they are on home soil, Nicholson — whose last goal for the Boyz was against Costa Rica in Septmber last year — is highly motivated and determined to set things right.
The Boyz currently occupy pole position in the three-team Group A on four points, one ahead of the Meixcans who hammered Suriname 3-0 on Saturday. The top two teams will secure qualification to the next Concacaf Gold Cup.
“Everybody knows that Mexico is a really good team so going up against them in a game means we have to show up and show what we are capable of. They are one of the top teams in Concacaf and this is an opportunity for us to prove that we are right up there with them — so we just have to go out there, play our game and hopefully get the three points,” said Nicholson who has 10 goals to his credit for the Reggae Boyz.
“But again, it’s gonna take focus and the right decision-making so that when the chance comes, we take it. The mentality is to work hard and to win but the execution will also be critical,” the towering striker stressed.
And much like his Captain Andre Blake and other teammates did in recent interviews, Nicholson affirmed that the Boyz are focused solely on the task at hand and nothing else. This as the Boyz stayed away from training ahead of their 3-1 second-leg win over Suriname last week, as a show of protest against Dalton Wint’s reluctance to resign from the general secretary post at that point.
Their call for Wint’s removal came after a foul-up with travel arrangements surrounding the first game in Paramaribo which ended 1-1.
“Yeah, there was alot of things happening around the Suriname games and it’s no excuse for us not winning the first game, but we showed our class in the second game and came away with the three points.
“But we are much more refreshed from the break now going up against Mexico and I think we are more focused and better prepared, so you should see a much better performance from us against Mexico,” Nicholson, who has five goals in 12 appearances for Spartak Moscow, ended.
— Sherdon Cowan