THAT Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz were able to pull off such an excellent performance against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Wednesday night is testament to the collective effort of the group, though Adrian Mariappa and Nyron Nosworthy played central roles.

Indeed, the central defensive pair had the unenviable task of keeping Mexico’s two leading strikers — Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez and Oribe Peralta off the score sheet, as well as organising the Jamaican defensive structure.

That they did it expertly is an understatement. However, even as they savoured the historic result at the much-vaunted Azteca, they were more than willing to share the commendations with their teammates.

“It was a team effort tonight (Wednesday), not just from the guys that played, but from the staff and everyone in and around the squad,” Mariappa told the Jamaica Observer hours after the game at the team’s hotel.

“Everyone was pulling for each other and pulling in the right direction and that’s what we need going forward,” he added, as his roommate and former Watford teammate Nosworthy looked on.

“It’s always going to be difficult and I can’t remember too many games in my professional career which have been easy, to be honest, but obviously playing at the Azteca with all the conditions being above sea level and being their home ground — and they are a good team — those factors made it a hard game, but I thought that the team played really well and we stuck to the game plan and, really and truly, I thought we could have won the game,” said the 25-year-old Reading FC defender, who got on the score sheet in his team’s 1-2 loss to Stoke City in yesterday’s English Barclay’s Premier League.

“I think it is testament to all the players who played today when 65 minutes into the game their crowd is cheering for us, shouting “Ole” every time we passed the ball, and giving us a standing ovation at the end of the game. I think, especially when we play away from home, look at what we did right today and bring that forward into the other away games.”

Nosworthy, popularly called ‘Nuggsy’, chipped in: “The game, for us on the whole, was a good game. We were fully concentrated and I think knowing who we were playing against made it that much better for us because our concentration levels for the whole team from the front to the back was very good, so for us it was to make sure we keep them (Chicharito and Peralta) pushed away from us for the first 15 – 20 minutes and see how it got on.

“Once we could see a light at the end of the tunnel, and we had chances, we said let’s keep doing the things we are doing and defend properly. We have come up against this quality in the past, so we know what to expect, so it is a case where we worked together and stick together and hence the result.”

Mariappa was originally slated to play at right wing back, a position he has played with his club. However, just prior to the last training session he approached the technical staff and advised them that he was much more comfortable in central defence. After a discussion, he was reinstated to partner his long-time friend, Nosworthy, at the heart of the defence, with Jermaine Taylor switched to right wing back.

Nosworthy enjoys the partnership. “I think it is very good. Obviously I’ve played with him at club level and we know each other very well and we’ve come over here and bonded even more, practically living together for a month (last May), so you learn about each other’s likes and dislikes and that helps on the pitch because that helps you to bounce off each other and work for each other… every little thing counts and I think that makes the difference. He’s a good player, we respect each other, as we do every one on the pitch and off it, so it’s a massive bonus.

“The chemistry is sealed, and it was sealed before we came here,” the 32-year-old added.

And he’s happy that the Boyz have finally stood up and been counted in Mexico and he’s not surprised by the result.

“…[We] were always the underdogs and everyone talking that they are going to do this and do that and that made it easier for us,” he explained. “We are more determined and it helped us to defend well because everyone is using us like scapegoats, like we are just here to be beaten and once that happens it’s the norm, it’s job done, but as I’ve said we knew we would come here and they would be in for a real surprise and they didn’t know what to expect of us… I thought we had the better chances and for them being at home we played the game perfectly and they were lucky to come away with a draw.”

Nosworthy was also full of praise for other new recruits, who added immeasurable quality and leadership to the team.

“I think they were fantastic tonight because they do this all the time and it just goes to show that if you conduct yourself properly all the time you get the results you want, and they’ve come in and blended in as if nothing has changed,” he offered.

Though it was thought to be a no-win situation in many quarters for the Boyz opening the final round against Mexico, Mariappa and crew couldn’t wait for this fixture.

“I’ll be honest, after the first time I came in the summer, every time I just always look to the next fixture and I’m so eager to come back and I was always looking to this fixture ever since we’ve got it.

“I know most of the team were dreading playing their first fixture here and I talk to the other lads and we were buzzing to get this game, as we knew that all the pressure would be on them to come out and beat us. I heard some of the silly scores that were predicted, but I’ve so much faith in this team, so I’m not surprised by the result we got tonight,” he said with a wide grin.