Young Reggae Boyz close to World Cup dream
U17s find shooting boots in Cayman Islands demolition job
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 10:03 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
IT WAS a ruthless attacking display from the under-17 Reggae Boyz yesterday in their second game of the Concacaf Men’s U17 Qualifiers as they thumped Caribbean neighbours Cayman Islands 10-1 in Group H action.
In a game where Jamaica needed a statement win to raise their goal difference in the group stages, the team responded with vigour.
A brace each from Jaquan Brown, Seymour Reid, and Jahmarie Nolan led the way for Jamaica, with Cadriano Marsh, Zienodean Mclean, Owen Jumpp, and Orel Miller adding to the tally as well.
The Boyz were on the front foot from the game’s opening whistle, pressing the Caymaninan defence with relentless waves of attack.
The team found purchase in the 10th minute of play when Brown rose highest in the box and found the back of the net with a bullet header off a corner from Dario White.
White’s constant threat down the flank paved the way for the team’s second goal in the 25th minute when he was brought down in the box to earn a penalty which Marsh then converted.
Jamaica added their third goal from yet another set piece routine, this time through defender Mclean in the 36th minute.
Four minutes later, Reid added to the tally. In a show of strength and skill, he dribbled past four defenders to blast home from close range.
Reid returned for his double in the 43rd minute, this time capping off a well-worked team goal that left him unmarked in the penalty box to slip a ball to the bottom right of the goalkeeper.
The Boyz continued their goal-scoring form in the second half, with Jumpp finding the back of the net with a well-placed strike from the top of the box.
It was seventh heaven for Jamaica minutes after the hour mark when Nolan added his name to the scoresheet, breaking through on goal to latch on to a defence-splitting pass from Reid.
Brown, who had opened the scoring, returned for his second in the afternoon in the 67th minute after taking advantage of a Caymanian mistake to slot into an empty net.
Second-half substitute Miller made it nine in the 73rd minute before Nolan got his brace to make it 10 in favour of the Boyz.
Cayman Islands grabbed a consolation goal in the 82nd minute as Jagger Alban netted from the penalty spot.
The win means that Jamaica lead the four-team standings with six points, ahead of El Salvador on goal difference.
Jamaica play El Salvador for group honours in the final game on Saturday and will qualify for the 2025 FIFA Men’s U17 World Cup set for November later this year with just a draw.
El Salvador beat St Lucia 2-0 in the late game, leaving them on six points and a goal difference of 10. Jamaica have a goal difference of 11.