Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz are now just a game way from qualification to the FIFA World Cup after Bailey Cadamarteri scored an 18th-minute goal to set up a date in the final of the FIFA playoff path one against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Playing in front of a 45,000-strong crowd at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico, the Reggae Boyz were on the front foot early even if there was a lack of fluidity in their approach.
In the 18th minute, a Ronaldo Webster free kick beat the wall but Cadamarteri was first to the rebound to give the Reggae Boyz a lead they would never relinquish.
Stunning efforts from distance posed threats to Jamaican custodian and captain Andre Blake, but there wasn’t much on for New Caledonia outside of that.
One of those efforts, eventually gobbled up by Blake, came on account of Richard King’s carelessness in possession, the defender coughing it up against Georges Gope-Fenepej, who in turn tried to chip the Jamaican goallie.
New Caledonia showed some spite to start the second half but that wouldn’t last long.
The game slowed in pace as Jamaica began to take charge again, but a slew of changes broke up the possibility of any momentum.
In the 65th minute though, Webster made his workrate show. Overlapping on a counter, Webster ran the full length of the pitch and burst into the 18-yard box only to see his attempted chip saved by New Caledonia goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine.
As the match wore on, Jamaica’s ambitions for a second goal diminished and New Caledonia came into their own. In the 69th, Jamaica were caught out with a ball over the top, but Joel Latibeaudiere was on hand to make things difficult for substitute Lues Waya.
From the 85th minute on, Jamaica struggled to keep possession as New Caledonia poured forward in a bid to grab an equaliser.
On the stroke of full-time, New Caledonia enjoyed a spell that saw the Jamaicans fail to clear their lines, but ultimately the offensive onslaught was too little, too late.
The Reggae Boyz will now turn their attention to their final playoff game against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday.
