Jamaica conceded a late goal and top spot in Group H in a 1-1 draw with Trinidad and Tobago at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

A below-par Jamaica led through Renaldo Cephas in the 53^rd minute with a brilliant solo effort, and with victory in sight, the Reggae Boyz conceded an 85th-minute goal by Kevin Molino.

Jamaica, which started the day top of Group H with nine points, are now second with 10 points as Curacao jumped into pole position on 11 points after thrashing the pointless Bermuda 7-0.

Jamaica will face Curacao on Tuesday in what is now a must-win game to qualify for the FIFA World Cup and end a 27-year wait, having historically qualified in 1998.

The group winner automatically qualifies for the World Cup, and the two best second-placed teams go into a Confederations Cup playoff with teams from other regions.

But it was a missed opportunity by the Reggae Boyz to really make their destiny easier, as had they held on for the win against T&T, they would only need a draw on Tuesday, but instead, they must now beat Curacao in Kingston.

Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren said it was more like two points dropped than one gained after they took the lead for so long.

“I thought we would hold on, Trinidad took risks which they had to do, a lot of balls into our box and just one slip up and it cost us the equaliser,” he pointed out.

“We talk before the game, the will to fight the will to win, and we obviously had that and got a goal,” said McClaren. “We knew it would be down to the last game, and what we need on Tuesday is a great performance. Thirty-five thousand people, it is important that the Jamaicans come and support us and make Tuesday a great occasion. It’s not going to be easy. They are a very good team, but we know what we have to do; we have to win.”