Jamaica’s Under-17 Reggae Boyz delivered when it mattered most, as they secured a crucial 3-1 victory over Liga Premier to progress to the knockout stages of the Torneo Del Sol in Mexico on Wednesday.
Seymour Reid was the hero of the day, as he registered a stunning second-half hat-trick that made the points safe and consolidated the young Reggae Boyz runner-up position in their group. They ended on six points with Liga Premier but were edged out on goal difference.
The victory ensured Jamaica joined Panama as the only non-Mexican teams to advance to the next stage, alongside six Mexican teams. The Reggae Boyz will face the Metropolitan team in Thursday’s quarterfinal clash, set for 1:30 p.m. Jamaica time.
Assistant coach Vassell Reynolds praised the team’s resilience and focus in the must-win encounter.
“We knew what was at stake coming into this game, and the boys showed tremendous character. Seymour’s performance was exceptional—his goals came at crucial moments and gave us the confidence to see the game through,” Reynolds said.
Reid’s first goal came shortly after the restart, as he slotted home a well-taken penalty kick. He added a second on the break where he outpaced a defender and finished with aplomb.
The stocky player sporting the number 23 jersey then completed the hat-trick when he finished from close range.
Reynolds emphasized the importance of the tournament in not only assisting with their preparation for the upcoming Concacaf Under-17 qualifiers but also in helping the young players develop as they rubbed shoulders with older opponents.
“Like I said earlier, this tournament is about more than just results—it’s about giving these boys the experience they need at this level of competition. Playing against quality teams like Liga Premier challenges us to raise our game and shows us where we need to improve,” Reynolds shared.
With the games played so far already serving as learning experiences, Reynolds is optimistic that the young Reggae Boyz will continue to make their mark on the tournament to further boost their confidence ahead of the qualifiers.
“We’re taking it one game at a time, but the belief in this group is strong. The Metropolitan team will be another tough test, but the boys are in good spirits, so we expect another good performance, but I can’t stress enough that the objective of this tour is to use the games to prepare for us for the qualifiers,” he ended.