Late equaliser denies Boyz win in El Salvador

National striker Michail Antonio finally made the impact Jamaican fans were hoping to see in their World Cup qualifier against El Salvador on Friday evening. However, Jamaica could not close out the game and were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Cuscatalan.

Antonio who came on as a second-half substitute gave the Reggae Boyz the lead and the potential game-winner in the 82nd minute, with a wonderful finish over El Salvadorian goalkeeper Mario Martinez. However, Alex Roldan's late header on the stroke of 90 minutes denied Jamaica a chance to move within three points of fourth place.

Head coach Theodore Whitmore started Antonio on the bench, who was in his first camp since the September international window and started Leon Bailey who played in his first qualifier of the campaign, after being previously unavailable because of injury.

Both teams produced little offence in the first half although El Salvador hit the crossbar twice thanks to efforts from Alexander Larin and Bryan Landaverde in the last 15 minutes.

Jamaica were on the back foot for most of the second half as El Salvador put them under pressure, having only managed to register their first shot on target in the 66th minute thanks to an Adrian Mariappa header.

Whitmore said that the inability to stop the service into the final third cost them two points that they needed to keep pace in the final round.

"We didn't stop the crosses coming into the box and that led to us conceding," Whitmore said. "We are disappointed in not getting all three points. We conceded late in the game but we still have to keep going. It's not impossible. "

Jamaica have previously posted back to back shutouts after conceding eight goals in their first four games.

Antonio who entered the game in the 74th minute managed to break the deadlock with a brilliant individual run and chipping the ball past Martinez for what seemed to be the winner.

It was a performance that far surpassed his September international debut against Panama where he struggled for the majority of the game and was eventually substituted.

Whitmore said that he was pleased with Antonio's impact despite the result.

"Michail came on and he did what we know he is capable of doing. We just have to assess our performance and think what is our next move against the United States," Whitmore said.

The Reggae Boyz will face the US at the National Stadium on Tuesday. With the draw, Jamaica remain in sixth place with six points, five points adrift of fourth-place Panama who came from behind to beat Honduras earlier.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com

Jamaica X1: Andre Blake, Damion Lowe, Adrian Mariappa, Kemar Lawrence, Oneil Fisher, Anthony Grant (Ravel Morrison 63), Jevaughn Watson (Devon Williams 63), Leon Bailey (Liam Moore 88), Kemar Roofe (Michail Antonio 74), Bobby Reid (Cory Burke 63), Shamar Nicholson

Final Stats Jamaica El Salvador

Shots 8 18

Shots on Goal 2 4

Possession 40% 60%

Passing Accuracy 66% 80

Corners 1 10

Yellow Cards 2 0

Red Cards 0 0