‘We need time’
Hallgrimsson sees room for improvement after Reggae Boyz WCQ win
Published:Friday | June 7, 2024 | 12:14 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
REGGAE BOYZ head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson believes that his charges will need time to adjust to a new formation.
The Reggae Boyz head coach was speaking after Jamaica clipped the Dominican Republic in the first game of their Group E Concacaf World Cup qualification campaign at the National Stadium yesterday.
The Jamaicans earned the win courtesy of Shamar Nicholson’s 17th goal for the country, scored in the 16th minute.
“We can improve from this performance, but the most important thing is that we got the win and kept a clean sheet, so what was needed to be done, was done,” said Hallgrimsson.
The coach was referring to a plethora of chances that went a-begging for the Jamaicans, who were all over the Dominican Republic in the opening minutes, especially through Renaldo Cephas.
The 24-year-old proved a thorn in the side of the Dom Rep unit. In the 10th minute of play, Cephas outpaced his defender, but a tame effort inside the box was comfortably handled by custodian Miguel Lloyd.
Six minutes later, the combination of speed and passing precision proved decisive as Cephas left the Dominican Republic defenders in his wake and calmly laid his cross on a platter for Nicholson.
As the Reggae Boyz continued their evening’s work, Bobby De Cordova-Reid in the 33rd minute tried to test Dom Rep goalie Miguel Lloyd from a free-kick but could only watch as his right-footed strike went inches wide.
“We should have closed out this game,” said Hallgrimsson, who said that a 1-0 lead, even in situations where you are dominant, is never comfortable.
In the second half, chances were few and far between for the Dominican Republic, with the Jamaican defenders keeping them at bay. While their opponents failed to build any meaningful chances, Jamaica kept their composure and through Cephas, in the 72nd minute, won a penalty.
De Cordova-Reid stepped up but was denied by the outstretched arms of Lloyd.
The last clear-cut opportunity of the match would also fall to Cephas in the 79th minute.
A rampaging run, imbibed with some trickery, left Cephas one-one-one with Lloyd, but the Dom Rep shotstopper would win that duel.
According to Hallgrimsson, the players, who he admits are good individually, will need time getting accustomed to playing with two strikers.
“Attacking-wise, we were very slow. Everything we did was low tempo, but in the second half, it got better. These strikers, with all their individual quality, aren’t used to playing in a two-striker formation, so we need time to get them to sync a little better.”