‘We deserved to score’

REGGAE BOYZ head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson believes the team deserved to have left the field with a result following Jamaica’s 1-0 loss to Mexico in the team’s opening game of the Copa America on Saturday.

Jamaica fell to a lone strike from Gerardo Arteaga in a hard-fought game against the Concacaf giants.

Michail Antonio had headed the ball into the Mexican net, but the VAR (video assistant referee) had disallowed the goal for offside.

Hallgrimsson said while he was displeased with the result, he felt the team’s performance was deserving of a goal.

“I thought we deserved to score and get something out of this game,” he said.

“Overall, I’m quite happy with the game defensively, especially tactically. Well executed from the Boyz, but we still need to protect the ball better when we have it, and that’s something that slowly we will improve.

“So overall, quite happy with how the game played out but unhappy with losing.”

According to Hallgrimsson, Jamaica had started the second half in fine form, with Kasey Palmer forcing a save from the Mexican goalkeeper just after the restart and Antonio’s disallowed effort coming minutes after.

However, he said the goal came in a window where the team had sat too deep defensively, allowing Mexico free reign on the second ball.

“The moment, maybe a 10- or 15-minute chapter of the game when they scored the goal, we were really struggling. I don’t know why we dropped too deep, so we never could defend the second ball that came out and the goal came exactly from that moment.”

Despite the goal, he sought to applaud the team’s overall performance, which, he said, was a positive showing in a major tournament.

SOLID DEFENSIVE

He said despite expectations for Mexico to dominate the game, the Boyz showed a solid defensive performance and created their own opportunities throughout.

“First half went mainly as expected, Mexico had more of the ball, but I think we created some really good chances in counterattacks and set pieces,” he said.

“I think tactically, all the game we played pretty well and solid defensively. We limited their chances with shots from outside [the box], but sadly, they scored from one.”

He added. “But then again, we fought to the end and I’m really proud of the players.”

Hallgrimsson said the loss can prove to be a blessing in disguise for the team for the rest of the group-stage fixtures.

He said the positives he had observed in the Mexico game can produced an improved performance against Ecuador and Venezuela.

“I think overall, the players, I’ll give them credit for this game. There were a lot of positives even though we are all disappointed, and it’s a very silent dressing room. I think we can take a lot from the match and build from that for the rest of this tournament.”