Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz showed plenty of rust in a difficult return to international football, with a 3-0 loss to Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh, on Saturday.
The game was the first for the national team since COVID-19 restrictions led to the temporary stoppage of international football. The team, for the most part, seemed largely out of sorts.
The dominant hosts took the lead from the penalty spot in the 10th minute, after Jamaica goalkeeper Dwayne Miller coughed a poorly taken attempt back in the path of Salem Al-Dawsari who tucked the ball into the net the second time of asking.
More self-inflicted damage came on the stroke of halftime, after an under hit back pass eventually ended up at the feet of Saleh Al-Shehri who beat a backpedaling defense before slotting past Miller in the 44th minute.
Firas Al-Buraikan added to the Jamaicans misery in the 77th minute when he tapped the ball into an empty net. Another turnover in midfield led to a backpedaling Jamaica backline once again being unable to deal with a counter attacking Saudi Arabia.
Prior to that moment, the level of the team’s play had gone up a notch following the introduction of overseas-based Jamaicans Ravel Morrison, Leon Bailey, Michael Hector and Bobby Reid.