Jamaica beat Honduras 2-1 to go top of Nations League group
Howard Walker / Our Today
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Jamaica moved to the top of the CONCACAF Nations League Group B with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Honduras at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Honduras.
An own goal by Denil Maldonado in the 49th minute gave Jamaica the lead after the brilliant work of Norman Campbell down the right flank forced the defender to turn the ball into his own net.
Jamaica’s lead was, however, short-lived as a minute later, David Ruiz poked home from close range in the 50th minute, pulling the home team level.
The Reggae Boyz, playing with intensity, regained the lead courtesy of a cool penalty from Michail Antonio in the 76th minute — his fifth goal for Jamaica.
The West Ham striker latched onto a beautiful pass from substitute Kaheem Dixon and was uprooted by goalkeeper Luis Lopez, leaving Mexican referee Victor Caceres with no choice but to point to the spot.
Jamaica Captain Andre Blake had to come up big with a crucial save in the last seconds, blocking a point-blank shot, to secure Steve McLaren’s first win as head coach.
It was Jamaica’s sixth-straight win against Honduras as the Reggae Boyz showed guts in a hostile environment to secure three points and moved to the top of Group B with four points from two games.
Nicaragua are also on four points after playing to a 1-1 draw with Cuba. Honduras slipped to third with three points while Cuba are fourth in the six-team group with two points. Trinidad and Tobago and French Guiana battled to a 0-0 draw to be on one point each.
The next set of games will be on October 10 when Jamaica travel to Nicaragua in a top-of-the-table clash.
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