Jamaica played a friendly match at Red Bull Arena Friday, then traveled home to face Cayman Islands two days later in their first Concacaf Nations League qualifier.
GlobeBull: Lawrence, Jamaica Open Up Nations League on a High Note
The lopsided contest saw Jamaica dismantle the visiting side 4-0.
Jamaica started the match in high gear. Seventy-five seconds into the match, New York Red Bulls left back Kemar Lawrence sent a low, hard cross to the near post. Darren Mattocks buried the chance and put Jamaica up 1-0.
2′ Goal @jff_football! Darren Mattocks nods in a header to give the Reggae Boyz an early lead! #CNL #TheDreamStartsNow pic.twitter.com/Udz0QJm3vy
— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) September 10, 2018
Bethlehem Steel FC striker Corey Burke converted an open top shelf shot from seven yards out in the 34th minute to double the lead.
Mattocks slammed his second header of the match from a Adrian Mariappa cross in the 58th minute. Burke slotted his second in the 66th minute.
Kemar Lawrence did not face a defensive challenge on the night. He was able to get up the left side of the field effortlessly and pump in multiple crosses.
You can catch all of the match highlights here.
Jamaica and other CONCACAF sides are showing how much Nations League and Gold Cup qualification means to them. Cuba dropped 11 on Turks and Caicos, Canada pummeled US Virgin Islands 8-0 and Dominican Republic & French Guiana each slotted five past their opponents. With 34 nations vying for 10 Gold Cup qualifying spots, tiebreakers could come down to goal differential. These teams are not taking any chances against weaker sides.
Jamaica’s next match will be on October 14th for Matchday 2 of Nations League qualification against Bonaire. The match will be played in Curaçao. The Red Bulls play matches on October 6th and 21st, so should Lawrence get called, he shouldn’t miss time for the club.
Photo by Bill Twomey Photography
