2 months ago
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Having defeated Guatemala 3-0 on Tuesday at the National Stadium in their final match of the second round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying, Reggae Boyz head coach Steve McClaren is expecting a completely different challenge when they face the Central Americans once again to kickstart their Concacaf Gold Cup campaign.
Jamaica downed Guatemala at the National Stadium to take Group E honours in the second round of World Cup Qualifiers.
An opening goal from Jonathan Russell, supported by a brace from Warner Brown, saw Jamaica finishing atop Group E with a maximum 12 points.
It was also McClaren’s first victory at the National Stadium since his appointment to the post last year.
McClaren told reporters that he expects both games against Guatemala to be two completely different challenges.
“It is two different games totally. We will probably have a different team for the second game and they probably will have a different team as well,” the Reggae Boyz boss had said ahead of both fixtures.
HISTORY
History will be on the side of the Boyz, however, as Jamaica defeated Guatemala in 12 of their 19 meetings, and having only lost thrice.
Guatemala last defeated Jamaica in 2012, a 2-1 victory, while the Boyz in recent times are enjoying a three-game unbeaten record against the Central Americans.
After the game, McClaren piled on the praises on his players for an excellent performance.
“It was a perfect result for us. Three goals, a clean sheet, 60-per-cent possession, 18 shots, nine on target. We looked a threat,” McClaren praised.
“We were very disciplined, very organised and very aggressive. We got that shape. We won the ball, that’s our strength, the speed we have on transition.
Jamaica will face Guatemala on June 16, before taking on Guadeloupe on June 20 and closing out the group stage against Panama on June 24.
The Gold Cup will be McClaren’s first major tournament with the national team and Jamaica’s 14th appearance at the regional tournament.
The team’s best performance came 2015 and 2017 where they finished runners-up.
English (US) ·