Senior Multimedia Reporter
walter.alibey@guardian.co.tt
A goal from Jamaica’s Renaldo Cephas in the 53rd minute dashed T&T’s hopes of a qualifying chance at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, as the match ended in a 1-1 draw at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain last night.
Cephas controlled the ball from the wide left of the T&T goal area, and despite the presence of Andre Raymond in front of him, the Jamaican striker was allowed to dribble the ball into the box and shoot low past Denzil Smith into the far right corner of the T&T goal.
The reality of a T&T exit consumed fans amidst a close-to-sell-out crowd. Midfielder Kevin Molino finally took hold of a ball in the Jamaican area that its defenders could not clear in the 85th minute. Molino, who made his entrance on the field rather belatedly, blasted the ball low past Andre Blake in the Jamaican goal, briefly reviving hopes of a second World Cup berth.
But it was not to be this time, as the Jamaicans stayed alive with 10 points from the result. National coach Dwight Yorke’s men will now have to think about their chance in World Cup 2030.
Coach Yorke left out Molino from his starting line-up, opting for safety in his defensive structure with Daniel Phillips and Andre Rampersad holding centre court, alongside Kobi Henry, Andre Raymond, Deron Payne, and Justin Garcia to keep a steady defensive backline. Still, the Jamaicans managed to take early control of the game.
Jamaica, slow and patient in their build-up, posed trouble for the T&T defence, who struggled to get the ball clear after it bounced awkwardly. It bounced favourably for Demarai Gray, whose controlled shot was gobbled up by Denzil Smith in the T&T goal in the 18th minute. Yorke’s call for the 12th-man support was favourably received, as the least-expected Deron Payne twice used his pace to race to the byline, only to be muscled off the ball.
T&T’s best chance to date went to Levi Garcia, who galloped on to a ball meant for him up the right flank. As he raised his head for the cross, Spicer was found labouring from an earlier collision with Mason Holgate. Garcia then cheekily cut inside, only to see his shot whisk past the wide upright of Jamaica’s goal in the 25th minute.
Later, Spicer, known for his destructive runs down the left flank, was closely watched, until he was set loose with a ball from Raymond but this time his centre was booted to safety before the onrushing Dante Sealy, who had been quiet all night, could get to it.
With just five points and in desperate need of a win, Sealy obstructed a ball that was aimed at Jamaican goalie Andre Blake, which defender Ethan Pinnock mistakenly handed to Payne. The tidy T&T overlapping defender then lifted the ball for the oncoming Spicer to connect sweetly with the one-time shot, but Blake fisted it to safety in the 35th minute.
The game seemed heading to the break with the score goalless, when Gray lifted a ball inside for Jonathan Russell to head past Smith, however, referee Walter Lopez from Guatemala waved offside.
Yorke returned from the break with an unchanged team. Yet, the speedy Levi Garcia came close soon after the restart. This time, Phillips’ long-lifted ball allowed him to race clear of the Jamaican defence, only to see his left footer sail high over the crossbar. The Jamaicans defeated T&T 2-0 in the first meeting between them in Kingston, but this time the rivalry had reached fever pitch, all knowing the consequences of another loss or draw.
Later, however, Molino’s entrance came with hope. And on almost his first touch of the ball, he lifted a pass to a diving Justin Garcia in the 72nd minute, only for the Jamaican goal to be spared as the ball sailed wide.
Garcia, the Spartak Moscow player, later could not weave his magic in the game, dribbling the ball from right to the centre of the goal area in the 75th minute. The frustration of their match was summed up when Garcia’s shot was blocked by debutant Roald Mitchell in front of the goal. With six points, Yorke’s men cannot manage a top-two best second-place finish in the group, with Curacao hammering Bermuda 7-0 to move to the top of the group with 11 points.
Teams
T&T
22 Denzil Smith, 2 Deron Payne, 3 Kobi Henry, 4 Jerrin Jackie, 6 Andre Raymond, 8 Daniel Phillips, 11 Levi Garcia, 13 Tyrese Spicer, 15 Dante Sealy, 17 Justin Garcia, 18 Andre Rampersad
Subs
1 Marvin Phillip (gk), 21 Jabari Brice, 5 Josiah Trimmingham, 7 Steffen Yeates, 9 Nathaniel James, 10 Kevin Molino, 12 Ryan Telfer, 14 Wayne Frederick II, 16 Isaiah Garcia, Roald Mitchell, 20 Real Gill, 23 Noah Powder
JAMAICA
1 Andre Blake, 4 Mason Holgate, 5 Ethan Pinnock, 6 Richard King, 7 Demarai Gray, 10 Bobby Reid, 14 Isaac Hayden, 15 Rumarn Burrell, 18 Jonathan Russell, 20 Renaldo Cephas, 22 Gregory Leigh
Subs
13 Tafari Chambers (gk), 23 Jahmali Waite (gk), 2 Dexter Lembikisa, 3 Rico Henry, 8 Tyreece Campbell, 9 Kaheim Dixon, 11 Shamar Nicholson, 12 Bailey Cadamarteri, 16 Karoy Anderson, 17 Damion Lowe, 19 Dujuan Richards, 21 Ian Fray
