Reggae Boy Demar Phillips (centre) is mobbed by teammates (from left) Dane Richards, Luton Shelton, Ryan Johnson and Jason Morrison after he scored Jamaica's opening goal (41st minute) against Guatemala in their CONCACAF Group A World Cup Qualifying match at the National Stadium last night. - Ricardo Makyn

Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

The Reggae Boyz put on a masterful second-half display inside the National Stadium last night to ease by Guatemala 2-1 in their opening semi-final CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) match.

Jamaica's goals were scored by Demar Phillips (41st) and Ryan Johnson (46th).

Guatemala's consolation was netted by second-half substitute Garcia Pezzarossi (90+2). In Group A's other game, the United States got by Antigua and Barbuda 3-1 in Florida.

Jamaica will next travel to Antigua and Barbuda for their next game on Tuesday, while Guatemala will host the USA.

Guatemala got off to a sprightly start winning two freekicks in the space of five minutes on the right flank, as they went on the attack early. The Reggae Boyz, however, quickly snuffed out the Guatemalan's threat, through the midfield duo of Rodolph Austin and Jason Morrison.

Jamaica was forced to make an early substitution after goalkeeper and captain Donovan Ricketts sustained a knee injury and had to be replaced by Dwayne Miller.

Stringing passes together

The loss of their captain did not adversely affect the team, as they started stringing passes together and came close to opening the scoring in the 38th minute, when Phillips received a neat pass from Luton Shelton on the edge of the area, but his curling effort went inches over the target.

The 51st-ranked Boyz were, however, not to be denied and took a deserved lead in the 41st minute when Phillips' 25-yard shot bounced over the diving Guatemalan keeper Ricardo Jerez.

If the approximately 15,000 fans were satisfied with the first half; they were in for a treat in the second half as the Reggae Boyz put on some 'champagne' football.

The team was immediately rewarded for their industry, after some good work down the left flank Shelton found Johnson in the middle of the area and he made no mistake as he slotted pass Jerez.

The 83rd-ranked Central American team found itself under siege for the remainder of the half, as the Boyz created a host of goal-scoring opportunities, but were not as clinical as they should have been.

The Guatemalan crossbar was, however, twice disturbed by Austin, first via a fierce 25-yard drive in the 60th minute and then again in the 65th minute with a thunderous free kick from the same distance.

The Jamaica's failed to cleared their lines in the final minute of stoppage time, allowing Pezzarossi to head in a lose ball from close range. Reggae Boyz head coach, Theodore Whitmore, was pleased with the overall display of the team which now lies second in the group on goal difference.

"It was our first World Qualifying game and we started off on a positive note, the way how we wanted to start off," Whitmore shared at the post-game press conference.

"There was a little bit of complacency in the last part and we conceded a goal, but with a little bit more trust in the team I think we have a far way to go," he added.

Guatemala's coach, Ever Hugo Almeida, believed Jamaica's second goal was a major turning point in the game.

"When they scored the goal in the second half, that changed the mentality of the Jamaicans and they became more composed and enjoyed the game somewhat," Almeida said.

"With that said I think Jamaica deserved to win the game," he added.