Full-Time Report: Honduras 2 - 0 Jamaica (WCQ)
Published:Tuesday | June 11, 2013 | 9:57 PM
Andre Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
Jamaica's Reggae Boyz are hanging on to their World Cup dreams by a thread; losing 0-2 in Tegucigalpamin their CONCACAF final round World Cup qualifier.
Playing the last 15 minutes with 10 men, after defender Adrian Mariappa's dismissal for a dangerous challenge, Jamaica struggled to create chances against a well-organised Honduras team.
Oscar Boniek scored from point-blank range in the 10th minute, after Roger Rojas won an unchallenged header in the Jamaican box, following a deep Honduras corner, while Rojas latched on to a suicidal back pass to round Donovan Ricketts and score into an empty net in the 88th minute.
The home team first came close a few minutes into the opening half, but an headed effort was acrobatically cleared off the line by young Jamaican defender Alvas Powell.
The Jamaicans grew into the half as it progressed but struggled to test the Honduras goalkeeper throughout the first half.
Honduras almost doubled their lead in the 41st minute but a low drive by Martinez was parried by Ricketts before Mariappa mopped up the rebound.
Rojas again tested the Jamaican custodian shortly afterwards.
Theo Robinson came close for Jamaica in the last 10 minutes, shaving the post from close range after the ball surprisingly broke to him. It was Jamaica's second and last shot on target throughout the entire game.
The Jamaicans surrendered any chance of a comeback two minutes before the end of regulation time, when defender Daniel Gordon underplayed a backpass to Ricketts, effectively playing in Rojas, who completed the easy task of beating a hopeless Ricketts, and putting the ball into the net.
It was an unfair end to the night for Ricketts, who up to that point had kept the Jamaicans in the game with a string of remarkable saves.
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andre.lowe@gleanerjm.com