ARLINGTON, Texas, CMC—Twenty-year-old full-back Dexter Lembikisa netted his first goal in Jamaican colors as the Reggae Boyz edged Panama 1-0 to claim third spot in the CONCACAF Nations League.
With the contest at Arlington Stadium headed towards the break goalless on Sunday night, Lembikisa curled a left-footed volley past goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera from 24 yards out to break the deadlock and put the Jamaicans ahead in the 41st minute.
United States-based midfielder Damion Lowe then struck the bar with a long-range chip on the hour mark as Jamaica squandered the opportunity to double their lead.
“Given we played 120 minutes only three days ago [against the United States], we needed to be clever in approaching Panama because Panama is a perfect passing side that moves the ball well,” said Reggae Boyz head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson.
“So I think tactically-wise, we played a good performance – maybe not the best game we have played – but we showed by this performance that we can play whatever national team in the world and have a chance against them if we play as tactically as we did today.
“It was not a game of many chances, but I remember a double chance for Shamar [Nicholson] at the beginning of the game. Kasey [Palmer] had a chance in the early stages as well …”
He continued: “In the second half, we fixed a little bit how we defended, so we were not as open, and [there were] not many chances in the second half.”
Coming off the heart-breaking 3-1 defeat to the United States last Thursday, Jamaica started on the front foot and had an excellent chance to take the lead in the 19th minute when Nicholson was put through in the 18-yard box by Michael Hector.
However, Nicholson saw his first shot saved by Mosquera and then watched as a defender cleared his follow-up shot off the line after the rebound fell nicely for him.
Demarai Gray forced another low save out of Mosquera at the near post in the 29th before the opening goal arrived four minutes before the break when Lembikisa, on loan at Hearts in the Scottish top flight from Wolves, created room with a couple of step-overs before blasting home his long-range volley.
and then 