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Smooth sailing for Reggae Boyz

Jamaica whip St Kitts and Nevis 5-0 at Concacaf Gold Cup

Published:Monday | July 3, 2023 | 1:37 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
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Jamaica players celebrate their opening goal against St Kitts and Nevis yesterday during their Group A Concacaf Gold Cup match at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Jamaica won 5-0.
Courtesy of concacaf.com
Jamaica players celebrate their opening goal against St Kitts and Nevis yesterday during their Group A Concacaf Gold Cup match at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Jamaica won 5-0.
Hallgrimsson
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Hallgrimsson
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After Jamaica dismissed St Kitts and Nevis 5-0, with six new starters in the team yesterday, Reggae Boyz head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson ended the first round of the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament a very pleased man.

Hallgrimsson was happy to see players taking their chances and believes that the strength in depth will make his team selection for the second round much tougher, which he admits is a good problem to have.

“Given that we made six changes to our starting line-up, we can only be happy,” Hallgrimsson said after yesterday’s final Group A game at the Levi’s Stadium.

“I think it would have been overambitious to try and equal the USA goals, but to be in a tournament and win 5-0 is a big achievement,” he said.

“It gives the players confidence. It gets them motivated for the next game. Everyone put something in. Hopefully, everyone can stake a claim to start the next game. So I am really happy so many players came about with goals,” he said.

OPPORTUNITY

He added: “When you play games like these and give players a chance, you would like them to come in and take that opportunity and use it to their benefit.

“It is this type of opportunity players should take. So when opportunity and preparation meet, that should be the case when they get the chance. Take it. So I am very happy with the players,” he commented.

After a slow start, the Jamaicans were only able to break the deadlock through an own goal from St Kitts and Nevis goalkeeper Julani Archibald in the 30th minute.

Jonathan Russell, in his competitive debut and second game for the country, made it 2-0 on the stroke of halftime with a fine finish.

Four minutes into the second half, Deshorn Bernard made it 3-0 to put the game beyond reach.

Daniel Johnson added a fourth in the 72nd minute after a quick counterattack. And Cory Burke sealed the win after finishing off another quick break two minutes later.

The Reggae Boyz finished second in the group on goal difference behind the USA, who defeated Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 after both ended on seven points. The US have a plus+12 goal difference while Jamaica have a plus+eight.

Jamaica will play the winners of Group D in the quarterfinals.