Hall blames ‘mistakes’ for defeats

Interim head coach Paul Hall has lamented his team’s recent trend of blown leads as well as continued lack of defensive concentration following Jamaica’s 3-2 defeat to Panama on Sunday.

Panama came from behind to achieve victory, thanks to a Javain Brown own goal in the 43rd minute, Eric Davis in the 51st minute and Ariano Azmahar in the 68th minute after Michail Antonio gave the Reggae Boyz the lead with a fifth-minute penalty. Andre Gray added a consolation goal in the 87th minute.

The team arrived home yesterday with their World Cup chances slipping further, dropping to seventh place with seven points, 10 points behind Panama who remain in fourth and six points from fifth-place Costa Rica, their opponents tomorrow.

The last two games have seen Jamaica’s inability to maintain an advantage, having got the lead against Mexico last Thursday before they conceded twice in two minutes and on Sunday when they lost the lead just before half-time. It is a trend that Hall says has been frustrating during this window.

“One of the sore points is that we have gone a goal up in both games and somehow managed to give the opposition the victory. So we have to take a look at that,” Hall said. “Tactically, I thought we were there (against Panama) but I thought that we lacked quality in the end.”

In addition to the lack of quality that was missing in the final third, Hall said that the team fell victim to the same lapses which led to them dropping points at home last Thursday which they were trying to avoid.

“We scored two goals away from home and we shouldn’t lose a game of football if we can score two away from home. You should be in a position where you can win. I think there was a cross at the far post which was allowed to be headed in,” Hall said. “I think we need to learn from those mistakes and not keep making those mistakes. It happened to us twice against Mexico and it happened to us (on Sunday). I think we need to get better in those areas.”

Winless so far under Hall, Jamaica enter tomorrow’s game at the National Stadium on the verge of being mathematically eliminated from contention. Despite their chances fading, Hall said that they still have to muster a performance for victory.

“We go on to face Costa Rica and we will try to win against them. It has been an unsuccessful tour but what has happened is that we managed to learn some things about ourselves and some of the players that are playing for us,” Hall said. “Going forward we still have to try to see if we can get three points off Costa Rica.”

The Reggae Boyz would have to win all their remaining games and Panama lose their last four to have a chance to take fourth place and a play-off spot.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com