TORONTO – Jamaica summoned a comeback for the ages to defeat Canada 3-2 in the second leg of their League A quarterfinal of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League on Tuesday night at BMO Field in Toronto.
It is the first ever Jamaica victory on Canadian soil.
The Jamaica win resulted in a 4-4 final on aggregate, with Jamaica owning the away goal tiebreaker. The Reggae Boyz have advanced to the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League Finals in March and have qualified for the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024.
Canada will progress to the Concacaf Nations League Play-In. The winner of the Play-In will qualify for the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024.
It was all Canada at the start and if not for two incredible saves from Jamaica GK Andre Blake, Canada could have easily had a two-goal advantage a quarter-hour in.
Canada finally got their breakthrough in the 25’ when Alphonso Davies met a cross from the left and fired a shot that was initially deflected by Blake but spun backward into net for a 1-0 Canada lead.
Jamaica needed a response and minutes after the re-start Leon Bailey looked poised to score with a left-footed shot, but instead stung the crossbar.
The equalizer from Jamaica would come eventually in the 63’ as a giveaway in the Canadian half led to a quick break and a Shamar Nicholson strike to make it 1-1.
The momentum was now squarely with Jamaica and another counterattack for the visitors saw Gray make an inch-perfect cross and Nicholson was there to guide it home for a 2-1 Jamaica lead in the 66’.
Canada would quickly summon a response of their own and Davies served up a cross for Ismael Kone to steer into net with a header to even the match at 2-2 and give Canada a 4-3 lead on aggregate.
A handball on Canada’s Stephen Eustaquio in the area presented Jamaica with a golden opportunity to take the lead in the series on the away goal tiebreaker. Bobby Reid stepped up to take the pressure-packed penalty and calmly converted for a 3-2 Jamaica lead in the match.
Jamaica’s task of seeing things out got more difficult in the 84’ when Gray received a second yellow card and was sent off, giving Canada a man advantage in the final minutes.
But in the end, the Caribbean visitors got the job done, finishing off a remarkable comeback victory that will send them to the CNL Finals.
