‘This is Jamaica’

Jamaica’s dramatic comeback win over Guatemala has given Reggae Boyz interim head coach Rudolph Speid something more valuable than three points – proof that his team is prepared to fight until the final whistle.

After conceding inside the first two minutes of Friday’s Concacaf Nations League opener, Jamaica rallied to secure a 3-2 victory.

In his post-match interview, Speid highlighted the team’s refusal to settle for a draw as one of the biggest positives.

“At no point in time did we give up trying to get the win,” Speid said. “We pressed right through to the end.”

That mentality, he insisted, will be crucial as Jamaica prepare to face Honduras tomorrow at the National Stadium.

Speid expects a tougher test, noting Honduras will be better equipped after seeing Jamaica’s performance against Guatemala. Honduras will also be desperate for points after falling 3-2 to Suriname in their opener.

“I expect them to be tough,” Speid said. “I expect them to be willing to work because they will have seen us play and have a good understanding of what we’re likely to do.”

Resilient Boyz

Jamaica’s resilience was tested almost immediately against Guatemala, but rather than crumbling, the Boyz gradually took control. At one stage, they enjoyed nearly 70 per cent possession and completed close to 90 per cent of their passes – signs Speid believes point to a team capable of controlling matches while adapting when circumstances change.

He admitted the first-half performance forced tactical adjustments, particularly with the introduction of Kaheim Dixon and Renaldo Cephas on the wings. Cephas scored the winner, while Dixon troubled the Guatemalan defence throughout.

“I realised that we could get some joy by putting some more rapid players down the pitch,” Speid explained. “I thought in the first half, we wanted to have more control of the game, which we did. The second half was time for us to take chances and use faster players and that’s what we did.”

He also shifted from a back three to a back four after Guatemala exploited space on the flanks. “The way they scored the goals, they had opportunities to play through the sides, so I thought that adjustment in shape would work better and it did.”

Still, Speid admitted there is much work to be done, warning that defensive lapses cannot be repeated against Honduras. With travel, a quick turnaround and the need to keep players fresh, preparations have been challenging.

“This is Jamaica. We are going to fight every step of the way and try to play properly while we’re doing it and see what happens,” Speid said.

Jamaica face Honduras tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the National Stadium. The Reggae Boyz sit joint-second in Group B with three points, while Honduras are bottom without a point. The top two teams will advance to the Nations League quarterfinals in November.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com