Dramatic late goal leaves U17 Boyz World Cup dreams in tatters

JAMAICA'S U17 Reggae Boyz suffered through a dramatic end to their World Cup qualifying campaign, falling 2-1 to El Salvador in the all-important game of Group H at the Concacaf Men’s U17 Qualifiers at the Cementos Progreso Stadium in Guatemala last night.

Jefferson Perla in the 22nd minute gave El Salvador the lead before Raequan Campbell-Dennis pulled the game level in the 48th minute.

With time running out, Brandon Ramirez sealed all three points and World Cup qualification with the winning goal in the 80th minute.

Jamaica had entered the fixture needing just a point to qualify for the age-group World Cup as they led the group tied with El Salvador on six points each but boasting a superior goal difference.

However, the Boyz were placed on the back foot early in the contest as El Salvador stamped their attacking intent with a goal fashioned from a set piece.

Perla gave the Central Americans the lead with a rocket of a free-kick that beat goalkeeper Justin Murray for pace and nestled in the back of the net.

Jamaica would turn on the pressure for the rest of the first half as they went searching for the equaliser but struggled to break down the resolute El Salvadoran defence.

The Boyz would find purchase early in the second half however, as three minutes after the restart, Jamaica pulled level.

Raequan Campbell-Dennis found himself in the right place at the right time to bundle the ball over the line, finishing off an initial shot from Cadriano Marsh.

Both teams would push to find their second - and the game’s third - with Owen Jumpp coming close in the 54th minute but dragging his effort just wide of the far post.

A mistake from the Jamaican defence had almost proved costly as the custodian Murray was forced to make a brilliant reflex save in the 70th minute to keep the game level.

Murray was once again called into action in the 77th minute, doing just enough to tip a shot over the bar but could not withstand the El Salvadoran pressure, giving up the ghost three minutes later.

Breaking free on the left, Ramirez's shot was just too much for the goalkeeper and despite a desperate clearance by Cai Mclean, the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line.

Jamaica would spend the remaining minutes of the game hunting for an equaliser but had their hearts broken when referee Shavin Greene blew the final whistle after 11 minutes of time added.

The result means Jamaica ends the campaign second in Group H on six points, trailing group winners El Salvador on nine.

St Lucia’s 5-0 win over the Cayman Islands mean they took third in the group on three points while Cayman finished at the foot of the table without a point.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com