National senior men's football team Head Coach Steve McClaren (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
‘WE GOT AWAY’
McClaren reflects on Boyz’s late draw snatched from SVG
REGGAE Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren says they were not surprised by the intensity and organisation of the St Vincent and Grenadines team after coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in their Concacaf Gold Cup qualifying game at Arnos Vale on Friday.
A penalty kick from winger Leon Bailey deep into added time rescued Jamaica, as they will take the away goal advantage into the return-leg game at Sabina Park in Kingston.
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In his post-game press conference on Friday, McClaren said they would not get carried away but would make their assessment going into the return leg.
“We will assess,” he said. “We have our thoughts but we always evaluate the game after and try to not be emotional about the scoreline. We try to live with reality but we know that St Vincent, who have one defeat in their last eight now, are well-organised, well-coached and are a threat in transition with their speed, so the players know and we have to make sure that we don’t fall into the trap.”
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Statistically, Jamaica dominated the game with more than 70 per cent of possession, 16 shots and seven on target, and McClaren wondered out loud several times how they were not ahead from the first half of the game.
St Vincent and the Grenadines, ranked 13th in the play-offs, appeared well on their way to a historic win over Jamaica before Tristan Marshall hacked down Warner Brown from behind inside the penalty area.
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Bailey stepped up to score his sixth international goal after Olex Anderson had the Vincentians hoping for a massive upset when he gave them the lead in the 65th minute, dribbling the entire length of the Jamaican half after a turnover to beat goalkeeper Andre Blake from close range.
Jamaica wasted a handful of chances in the first half and thought they had taken the lead midway the second half when Dexter Lembikisa beat goalkeeper Lemus Christopher with a shot from outside the area, but it was ruled out because of Bailey’s obstruction.
McClaren said on Friday he had done his homework and knew they were in for a tough game against St Vincent, who had lost just once in their last eight games.
“We know St Vincent — they work hard, they’re organised,” he said. “We said that before to everybody and the players, ‘Don’t be surprised.’ I don’t think we were surprised. We started well, you know; they improved on transition but they’re very effective.
“On another day we’d have been two or three up before we conceded, and that’s one of them games that you get. I said there’s no easy game in the Caribbean, and this was not an easy game and I think the players know that maybe, you know, we got away with that one. We got to make sure on Tuesday we don’t allow the mistakes and the transitions where they’re very dangerous.”
Jamaica’s Leon Bailey kicks the ball during the Concacaf Gold Cup football match against Guadeloupe at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on July 16, 2021. (Photo: AFP)
