Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz turned in one of their better displays in beating Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) 3-2 in the opening game of the four-team Unity Cup in London on Tuesday.

Jamaica raced to a 2-0 lead courtesy of a 25th-minute penalty by Kasey Palmer and the impressive debutant Rumarn Burrell of Burton Albion in the 53^rd minute, for his first goal for Jamaica.

T&T roared back, scoring in the 54^th minute through Isaiah Leacock and Kevin Molino in the 69^th minute.

But the Reggae Boyz were not to be denied and Richard King converted Jamaica’s second penalty in 90+4 minute. It was Steve McClaren’s second win over the Dwight Yorke-coached Soca Warriors, having beaten them 1-0 on February 6, 2025.

McClaren noted that it was always going to be a difficult game for the full 90 minutes because they only had one day’s preparation, which was not ideal.

“People flying over, jet lagged, most of the players not playing for three weeks, and so they’ve done remarkably well to come away with a victory,” he explained.

He continued: “Delighted with the first half. Thought we were excellent. Really should have been a few more than just the one we got and then we got the second and relaxed a little bit”.

“And then we thought we were just planning for penalties, and thank God we got a penalty, Richard King smashed it away perfectly.

Jamaica advanced to the final and awaits the winner of the Ghana versus Nigeria encounter to be played on Wednesday. Trinidad and Tobago will play the loser for third place.