Jamaica’s Under-17 football team opened their CONCACAF U-17 World Cup qualifying campaign in Group H on a strong note, securing a 3-1 victory over St. Lucia in Guatemala City on Monday night.
The young Reggae Boyz wasted little time asserting their dominance, with Seymour Reid breaking the deadlock in the 12th minute. Reid, positioned well in the box, guided his right-footed shot into the bottom left corner after being set up by an excellent through ball.
Jamaica maintained their attacking intent throughout the first half, creating several dangerous chances. Giovanni Taylor and Cadriano Marsh both came close to doubling the lead, with Taylor firing just over the bar in the 22nd minute and Marsh hitting the right post in the 51st. St. Lucia, meanwhile, struggled to break through Jamaica’s defensive line but threatened with long-range efforts.
The second half saw Jamaica step up their intensity, and their persistence paid off in the 50th minute when Dario White found the back of the net. His right-footed strike from the right side of the penalty area sneaked into the bottom left corner, leaving the St. Lucian goalkeeper with no chance.
Moments later, in the 55th minute, Jahmarie Nolan delivered a spectacular long-range goal, unleashing a powerful right-footed shot from outside the box that curled into the top left corner, extending Jamaica’s lead to 3-0.
However, St. Lucia refused to go down without a fight. In the 73rd minute, Shevon Byron capitalized on a defensive lapse to score a consolation goal for St. Lucia, calmly finishing from the center of the box after receiving a pass from Alex Devaux.
Jamaica had opportunities to restore their three-goal cushion late in the match, with Reid hitting the right post in the 90th minute and Marsh seeing a close-range shot saved in stoppage time.
The game ended 3-1 in favor of Jamaica, a result that gives them an important three points in their quest for a place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Head coach Altimont Butler will be encouraged by his team’s attacking play and ability to create scoring opportunities. However, he may look to fine-tune their defense ahead of their next match to ensure they remain solid throughout the tournament.
Jamaica will next face Cayman Islands on February 12, looking to maintain their momentum and edge closer to qualification.