Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sports

When Jamaica tackle Nicaragua in their second-leg football CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier next Tuesday in Managua, the Reggae Boyz must win to have any chance of advancing any further in their quest for a place at the 2018 World Cup Finals in Russia.

Nicaragua, ranked 139th in the world, claimed first-leg advantage over 52nd-ranked Jamaica with a shock 3-2 victory in their first-leg qualifier at the National Stadium last night.

The visitors surged to a 2-0 lead at half-time, and inside a minute in the second half, Luis Molina scored to hand his team a handsome 3-0 lead.

Darren Mattocks (68th) and Adrian Mariappa (78th) raised the hopes of the players and the more than 8,000 crowd inside the National Stadium as they reduced the deficit. Jamaica pushed hard for an equaliser, but the visitors defended defended stubbornly and had their goalkeeper to thank for some inspired saves. A one-goal advantage and three away goals could prove crucial for the Nicaraguans in the return leg. Jamaica got off to a slow start and found themselves two goals behind inside the first 10 minutes.

Captain Manuel Rosas Arreola gave Nicaragua the lead at the fourth minute, scoring a penalty while sending goalkeeper Andre Blake the wrong way, after Kemar Lawrence handled the ball inside the box.

Within six minutes, Carlos Chavarria doubled the lead. The Jamaican defence was caught badly out of position on a counter-attack and Chavarria hit a grounder across Andre Blake and just inside the far post.

Jamaica almost halved the deficit at the 13th minute when Demar Phillips, effective on the left, passed to Rodolph Austin, who smashed powerfully at goal. However, goalkeeper Justo Lorente proved equal to the task and pushed the ball over the bar.

Phillips provided an even better opportunity with another cross from the left to Simon Dawkins, but the unmarked midfielder had more time than he thought and put his shot over the bar.

Jamaica got stronger as the half progressed and moved into a position of clear dominance. Significantly, they could not transfer that advantage into goals. The Reggae Boyz now have it all to do in the second-leg away tie in Managua next Tuesday. They must win by two clear goals to deny the Nicaraguans. The winners on aggregate will advance to the 12-team CONCACAF semi-final group stage. The losers will be eliminated.