Hallgrimsson proud of eliminated Reggae Boyz

REGGAE BOYZ head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson says, despite a defeat to Ecuador and elimination from the Copa America on Wednesday night, he was proud of the team’s fight throughout the game.

Jamaica fell 3-1 to Ecuador in a match where the Boyz were denied a penalty to equalise against the South Americans in the second half.

Hallgrimsson said he felt the referee made the wrong decision, as Ecuador was awarded a penalty in the first half for a similar situation.

According to the head coach, Jamaica had grown into the game after a slow start and should have seen their efforts rewarded with a chance at goal from the penalty spot.

“We had nothing to lose, so we went all in, put the line higher and pressed higher, and I think we played a really good second half,” he said.

“We scored one goal early, which was important and should have had a penalty. If the first one was a penalty, then the second one was a penalty as well.

“Absolutely two identical instances and one was given in favour of Ecuador and the other one was given in favour of Ecuador as well.”

Jamaica were trailing 2-1 at the time of the decision following Michail Antonio’s goal in the 54th minute.

Antonio had pulled one back for the Boyz after reacting first in the box to swipe home, bagging Jamaica’s first-ever goal in the Copa America.

Hallgrimsson said, after the decision, the team had decided to go searching for the equaliser.

A risk, according to Hallgrimsson, which ultimately led to the team conceding a third on the night in the dying minutes of the game as Alan Linda scored on a counterattack.

He said, despite this, he gives credit to the players for fighting down to the final whistle.

“At the end of the game, we took risks and, like everyone who gambles knows, if you take risks, you can lose and Ecuador did well in one counterattack and scored the third goal,” he said.

“I must give my players credit for everything they gave, especially in the second half. They left everything on the pitch but, sadly, the results did not go in our favour and a lot of other things did not go to us in this game.”

Jamaica will round out their Copa America campaign against group leaders Venezuela on Sunday at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.

The Boyz will be playing for mostly pride, having already been eliminated, while Venezuela have already booked their spot in the quarter-finals, having beat Mexico 1-0 in their last outing.