Fast start for young Boyz
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:57 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
JAMAICA’S YOUNG Reggae Boyz started their under-17 World Cup qualification drive with a 3-1 win over St Lucia in their opening Group H Concacaf game at the Estadio Cementos Progreso in Guatemala yesterday.
Goals from Seymour Garfield-Reid (12th), Dario White (50th) and Jahmari Nolan (55th) saw the Jamaicans to a comfortable victory.
Shevon Byron scored for St Lucia in the 73rd minute.
Jamaica started slowly but got of the mark in the 12th minute, courtesy of Garfield-Reid’s strike.
The young Reggae Boyz had a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0 minutes later but Garfield-Reid lifted over the bar after an excellent through ball from Raequan Campbell-Dennis, as the young Reggae Boyz grew into the game.
Boyz goalkeeper Cai-Anthony McLean escaped a possible red card in the 28th minute after he took out Justice Germaine, who broke away.
Still, Jamaica continued to control the game but Garfield-Reid could not turn home from 12 yards after good work from Keiran Smith down the left.
The St Lucians were never out of it though, posing a threat on the counter, and only an alert Cai-Anthony McLean prevented Byron from getting loose on Justin Murray in the 32nd minute.
Three minutes into the second half, Cadriano Marsh flashed a header wide of the mark, as Jamaica looked to increase their advantage.
Moments later St Lucia skimmed the bar with a shot from the edge of the area, after good work from Byron.
However, Jamaica went straight upfield and Garfield-Reid laid the ball on for substitute White, who drilled a shot into the far corner to make it 2-0.
Marsh then hit a shot against the post as Jamaica threatened to run away.
The young Reggae Boyz would increase their lead when Nolan, a substitute, fired an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper A’dee Germe in the 54th.
Nolan also came close to a second in the 72nd minute but he fired over the bar from inside the box.
The St Lucians got a goal back when Byron capitalised on some hesitancy from a defender to lift the ball over the advancing Murray.
Byron, then became a thorn in the Jamaican’s side in the closing 15 minutes, forcing Murray to make two crucial saves, from a header and after he broke through. While Dervaj Edwards came close from a free kick late on.
Garfield-Reid almost added a fourth goal for the Jamaicans in the last minute, but his curling shot slammed against the post.
El Salvador were 3-0 up against Cayman Islands at press time and would take the lead in the group should the disparity in the scores remain.