The scoreline may not have been as glamorous as many anticipated, but Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz did just enough to secure a vital 1-0 win over the British Virgin Islands to confirm their spot in the next round of the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers.

In a match where dominance in possession failed to translate into a flurry of goals, Warner Brown’s 17th-minute header ultimately proved the difference at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground on Saturday. The three points pushed Jamaica to nine, level with Group E leaders Guatemala, whom they will now face in a top-of-the-table showdown on Tuesday. The British Virgin Islands finished at the foot of the standing without a point.

For a fixture that was widely billed as a potential goal-fest, especially given Jamaica’s talent-rich squad on paper, the performance fell short of expectations in the final third. The Reggae Boyz controlled the match from the start but struggled with finishing and cohesion in attack.

The early stages of the contest hinted at a straightforward outing for Jamaica. After Demarai Gray’s well-weighted free kick floated into the box, Brown expertly flicked on a header beyond BVI goalkeeper Frankie Beckles to open the scoring.

Shortly after, Kaheim Dixon saw a close-range effort blocked by a crowded BVI defence in the 21st minute, while Gray’s 34th-minute strike from distance was deflected wide.

At the other end, Andre Blake, who had little to do throughout the match, comfortably gathered a rare BVI header off a set piece in the 43rd minute, the home side’s first meaningful moment in the final third.

Richard King nearly doubled Jamaica’s lead on the stroke of halftime, as he forced a sharp save from Beckles with a low drive from distance, and the resulting corner came to nothing as the Reggae Boyz went into the break 1-0 up.

It was more of the same on the resumption, as the Boyz controlled proceedings but lacked ruthlessness in front of goal. A loose ball fell kindly for Dixon five minutes in, but his effort was again blocked, and moments later, he was again released by Gray on the break and fluffed another golden opportunity.

The closest the visitors came to adding a second came in the 70th minute, when substitute Romario Williams unleashed a fierce left-footed shot from outside the box that cannoned off the upright.

Damion Lowe then tested Beckles with a firm header from Gray's corner in the 77th, but the custodian again proved equal to the task.

Perhaps the biggest scare of the afternoon came in the 78th minute when BVI’s Tyler Forbes forced Blake into action with a shot from a tight angle at the near post. Seconds later, Williams sprinted free on the break but dragged his shot wide as the Reggae Boyz continued to misfire.