‘We controlled it’
McClaren happy with Reggae Boyz management in 3-0 win over SVG
Published:Wednesday | March 26, 2025 | 12:12 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
JAMAICA’S REGGAE Boyz qualified for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup after a 3-0 win over St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) at Sabina Park yesterday, for a 4-1 aggregate win over the two-leg qualifying tie.
Warner Brown opened the scoring in the 27th minute before Andrew Johnson made it 2-0 with an own goal a minute from time. Renaldo Cephas sealed the nation’s Gold Cup berth with a goal in time added.
Reggae Boyz coach Steve McClaren said it was a good display from the Boyz.
“The game management from the boys was excellent. From back to front we controlled it. We upped the tempo when we needed to.
“I call it 90 miles per hour and 10 miles per hour. In the first game we played 10 miles an hour too much. This time I was pleased with the balance,” he said.
The Reggae Boyz took their time to get going, as they wrestled to get possession away from the visitors in the first 20 minutes.
However, the Boyz soon settled into their game and went ahead when Brown rode a tackle on top of the area and slammed a shot past Lemus Christopher in goal for St Vincent.
Jamaica controlled possession after taking the lead and Bobby Reid should have doubled the advantage but he headed straight to Christopher after he found himself unmarked at the back post.
Cephas also had a glorious opportunity late in the half but he could not get the ball past Christopher after a heavy touch.
The Jamaicans went on the attack immediately after the break, especially through Cephas down the left, and came close on a few occasions.
Joel Lattibeaudiere placed an effort just wide of the target in the 55th minute, and Richard King did the same with a header at the back post from a corner in the 65th minute.
They Boyz eventually got an insurance goal in the 89th minute when Johnson looped a Leon Bailey pass over his own goalkeeper.
Chepas put the icing on the cake in added time, volleying home from inside the area after the St Vincent defence failed to clear their lines
St Vincent coach Ezra Hendrickson said they never got going.
“We came in very confident after doing so well Friday. Almost winning that game. The mentality and attitude and spirits were high.
“We didn’t start with a good flow. We gave them control of the game. We had a couple headers in the six-yard box that we didn’t convert. But once they got the goal, they stole the momentum and it was difficult for us,” he said.