Speid chasing maximum points

The quarter-finalists in the Concacaf Nations League will be decided today, and although Jamaica are in a strong position to secure a spot from Group B, in League A, coach Rudolph Speid, is not taking any chances and will be hunting all three points when they face Honduras at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, tonight at 9 p.m.

The Reggae Boyz are second in the group on six points, one behind leaders Suriname. Guatemala are third in the standings with four points, while Honduras, Martinique and El Salvador are all on three points.

After their 2-0 win over El Salvador on Friday, Speid insists their destiny is in their own hands and he will be hunting all three points tonight.

“We could still lose and continue in the competition, and the other way is to get a draw; but the safest way is to get a victory, “he said.

“We understand all the permutations. We understand that Honduras are a good team. All the teams in our zone have been able to defeat each other at some point or another, so I think all the teams are even and that is where we will have to start.”

In their meeting in Kingston a week ago, Honduras held off a toothless Jamaican team, with 10 men, for a 1-0 victory, and Speid said the Jamaican camp is well aware of the threat their opponents pose.

“They are a good team, dangerous team, and that is something that the Jamaican contingent will have to contend with in this game

“They are very skillful and have very fast players. They are resolute and tenacious. Even when they were down to 10 men (in last meeting) they were able to hold us off and get a famous victory. So we are aware of their strengths,” he declared.

The Reggae Boyz will be without some key players through injury or suspension, such as Ronaldo Cephas, Rumarn Burrell and Bailey Cadamarteri.

Nevertheless, Speid is confident in the players they have at their disposal.

“Some of these players have injuries. So we allowed them to leave to treat their injuries (at their clubs), and some players, (like) Cadamarteri, are out on yellow cards. So we have a depleted team now, but we are okay,” he insisted.

Last week the Honduras defeated the Reggae Boyz for the first time in 13 years and nine matches. The Reggae Boyz won their last away game in Honduras 2-1 in 2024, but they have not beaten the Central American team in their last two meetings.

Overall, Honduras have won only once in their last five games but will be very tough at home tonight.

Meanwhile, in the group’s other games today, Suriname travel to Guatemala and Martinique host El Salvador.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com