McClaren wants Reggae Boyz to start faster

CALIFORNIA, USA, (CMC):

REGGAE BOYZ head coach Steve McClaren is urging his players to be more aggressive and show more fight after Guatemala claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Jamaica in their Concacaf Gold Cup Group C matchup on Monday at Dignity Health Sports Park.

The Reggae Boyz had an early scare when Guatemala nearly broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. Darwin Lom battled through multiple defenders before setting up Óscar Santis for a volley, but the strike was disallowed for offside.

The Guatemalan duo wouldn’t be denied for long, however. In the 32nd minute, Lom delivered a clever backheel pass to Santis, who slotted home the decisive goal, sealing a crucial three points for his side.

That was the first time Guatemala were beating Jamaica in the Gold Cup.

Jamaica struggled to find an equaliser as Guatemala’s disciplined defence held firm. After the match, McClaren emphasised the importance of mentality in tournament play.

“At the beginning, you have to have an aggressive mentality that overcomes everything. When you’re the underdog, which Guatemala felt they were after their first result, they played like underdogs, and they fought like mad. We have to do the same. People talk a lot about tactics and formations, but it’s about players, about being aggressive, winning duels, and getting the basics right,” said McClaren.

Jamaica will look to bounce back when they face Guadeloupe on Friday in San Jose, California.