LAS VEGAS, Nevada, CMC – A historic goal from West Ham United forward Michail Antonio failed to inspire Caribbean Football Union No. 1 Jamaica, and they endured a massive dent to their hopes of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Copa América in the United States after Ecuador thumped them 3-1 on Wednesday.
The Reggae Boyz, as the Jamaicans are known, were trailing 2-0 at half-time in their Group B match at the Allegiant Stadium in the city of Las Vegas in the state of Nevada after an own goal from Kasey Palmer preceded a penalty kick from 17-year-old Kendry Paez in first-half stoppage time.
Antonio cut the deficit with a maiden Copa América goal for Jamaica early in the second half. Still, Alan Minda formalized the result for the Ecuadorians when he scored in second-half stoppage time.
The defeat meant the Jamaicans were practically eliminated from the tournament because they sat at the bottom of the group table without a win and no points in two matches after they lost their opening match 1-0 against Concacaf giants Mexico last Saturday at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
With the top two teams from the group qualifying for the quarterfinals, the win enhanced the chances of Ecuador reaching the tournament’s knockout stage after rebounding from a 2-1 loss to Venezuela.
“I must give my players credit for everything they gave for the second half; they left everything on the pitch…,” Reggae Boyz head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson told reporters in a post-play news conference. “Sadly, results didn’t go in our favor. Many things didn’t go to us in this game.”
“I want to give Ecuador congrats from us to win the game, and my friend Felix [Sanchez], but we deserved to have more – especially after the second-half performance.”
Hallgrimsson added: “Still, too many players had an off day for us, and when you play this competition at this level, you cannot have too many players having an off day.
“I don’t know why, but they kind of surprised us with the power and pressure and, in the beginning, we lost confidence and struggled [with] winning second balls.”
Jamaica was denied a chance for the equalizer in the 76th minute after a controversial no-penalty call from Chilean referee Christian Garay on a review of a potential handball on Ecuadorian midfielder Alan Franco – a decision that perplexed Hallgrimsson.
“I thought we should have had a penalty like Ecuador had a penalty,” he said. “I don’t see a difference between the two instances, so I don’t know why the referee, after looking at it, decided not to give us a penalty but to give them a penalty.
“I cannot, for the love of God. I don’t want to say much, but I don’t understand the difference between those two.”
Jamaica was on the back foot after defender Piero Hincapie tried to send a cross from the left corner. Palmer got his shins on the ball and sent it toward the net with a heavy backspin that left goalkeeper Jahmali Waite flat-footed as it sailed into the right netting to give Ecuador the lead in the 13th minute.
The Jamaicans were only a few minutes away from going into half-time one goal down, but Greg Leigh was called for a handball after a video review, and Paez stepped up to score from the spot in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Antonio scored with a volley off a loose ball from a corner for the first goal for the Reggae Boyz in eight Copa América matches in the 54th minute.
Ethan Pinnock’s effort was blocked by the Ecuador defence, but the rebound fell nicely into the path of Antonio, whose rasping shot almost burst through the nets.
Jamaica continued to press for the equalizing goal, but they paid the price for their adventure when Minda scored in the 91st minute with a goal following a classic counterattacking move in a two-on-one to seal the deal.
The Jamaicans play Venezuela in their final group match on Sunday at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. a
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