Reggae Boyz beat Honduras in historic win

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz beat Honduras on Honduran soil for the first time in CONCACAF World Cup qualification history with goals on either side of the half, lifting the visitors to a 2-0 win at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula on Wednesday.

It’s the Reggae Boyz’ first victory of the final round of World Cup qualification for Qatar 2022, taking the team to five points, while Honduras has three after six matchdays.

Honduras thought it may have had an opener in the 33rd minute when Jamaica Goal Keeper Andre Blake initially failed to hold onto a long ball, before pouncing on it right as Angel Tejeda tried put a foot on it, keeping the scoreline at 0-0, CONCACAF said.

“That changed shortly thereafter, though, as Kemar Roofe scored his debut Jamaica goal in the 38th minute by redirecting a shot from inside the box by Shamar Nicholson past Honduras GK Luis Lopez to make it 1-0 to Jamaica,” CONCACAF said.

It said Honduras launched numbers forward in hopes of getting back on level terms in the second half, “but Blake and the Jamaica defense would not break.”

CONCACAF said the Jamaican lead was then doubled in the 80th minute when a pass found onrushing fullback Oniel Fisher, who charged into the box and took a hard shot that beat Lopez to make it 2-0.

On Sunday, a scoreless draw between Jamaica and Canada at Independence Park in Kingston took Jamaica to a pair of points in the final round of World Cup qualification, while Canada earned its second consecutive away draw and now sits on seven points.

“After an even first half, things heated up in the second 45 minutes. Canada had a chance just after the ball started rolling again, before a Jamaica free kick in the 50th minute taken by Kemar Lawrence was met by Junior Flemmings, who hit the post with a header,” CONCACAF said.

In the 80th minute, it said Jamaica’s Kemar Roofe led a counter-attack and tried his luck from outside the box with “a strong right-footed effort, but narrowly missed the upper 90 of Canada GK Maxime Crepeau’s net.”

CONCACAF said Canada kept pushing for the breakthrough goal as well, with chances in the 84th minute “when Alistar Johnson was unable to get his effort on target after a nice build-up, followed by an opportunity the 86th minute when Alphonso Davies pulled a few tricks out of his bag, but ultimately ran into the Jamaican defense in the area.”

“Lawrence once again drew Crepeau into action as the match ticked into the final minute of stoppage time, but the Canadian shot-stopper made the save to preserve the point,” CONCACAF said.

Last Thursday, the Reggae Boyz’s hopes were crushed, as they went under to the United States 0-2.