SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — The game was set up perfectly for his explosive pace, trickery and directness.

And in 15 minutes, including three of time added, he delivered, though no goals materialised. His introduction was a breath of fresh air and it forced the Panamanians to take stock. That’s why he’s the Jamaica Observer’s star player for the 1-1 draw at the National Stadium on Friday night.

Jamaica had taken a 23rd minute lead through central midfielder Marvin Elliot, but lost central defender Nyron Nosworthy to a ruptured left Achilles tendon, and with him the team’s discipline.

The Panamanians duly earned the equaliser in the 66th minute through Luis Henriquez, and threatened to steal all three points until the 32-year-old Sheffield Wednesday midfielder/winger joined the fray.

“I felt really well when I went on the pitch and I just tried to do my best for the team,” he told the Observer shortly after the team arrived at its base here in San Jose yesterday.

He added: “We got a point, but we dropped two more, but we have eight matches remaining (in the World Cup Qualifying series) and we just have to keep focused and just go out there on Tuesday and get the points.”

The last time Johnson, more popularly called ‘Teddy’, a native of Southside in the south St Andrew community, played against Panama, he scored a beauty to pull Jamaica level before Keammar Daley notched the winner late on for a 3-2 result.

He received a pass midway his own half, turned his marker expertly, then went on one of his mazy runs which saw him accelerate between two opponents before dribbling straight down the centre of the pitch, and with the defenders retreating, skilfully shot home from just inside the penalty area.

Friday night was almost a repeat, as on no fewer than three occasions he drove at the heart of the Central American team’s defence, and though they employed various illegal means to stop him, the former Tivoli Gardens fleet-footed player was still good enough to create serious openings, which were ruined by over weighted final passes, teammates being in offside positions, and fouls.

“It’s the coach’s decision, but I got my chance and went out there and did my best, but I would love to get more minutes,” he said.

Johnson, who signed with English club Bolton Wanderers from Tivoli Gardens in 2001 for an undisclosed fee, replaced Jobi McAnuff, and would have posed the most threatening in his quarter hour on the pitch, especially at a time when the visitors appeared to have had the upper hand.

“I’m a dribbler, so I’m just going to try to get in the game and go at them with my pace, with my dribbling,” he had warned. But it seemed like coach Julio Dely Valdez and company hadn’t heeded the warning. Luckily for them he ran out of time to really make them pay in the final score.

So for his huge impact to lift a fading Reggae Boyz team and give it teeth, Teddy Johnson gets the nod.