The top two Caribbean nations, according to the FIFA rankings, will do battle at Independence Park in Kingston as Jamaica host Haiti in CONCACAF Nations League action on Tuesday.
A goal just beyond the hour mark on Friday was enough to lift the Reggae Boyz to the top of the Group B standings with a 1-0 triumph over Honduras, while the Haitians could not penetrate the Cuban backline as they settled for a 0-0 draw.
Match preview
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It was a positive debut for Heimir Hallgrimsson and his Jamaican team, who looked dangerous going forward during their opening fixture against the Hondurans, scoring on their only targeted effort.
That kept their unbeaten run at home in this competition intact, and that victory has the Reggae Boyz in the pole position to make it beyond the Nations League group stage for the first time as they were the only Group B side to win their opening match.
They also remain unbeaten in this competition, conceding a goal or fewer in all but one of their encounters since this tournament debuted in 2019 (a 2-2 draw at Mexico in March).
Jamaica have been the kings of the Caribbean for quite some time, having captured the now defunct Caribbean Cup six times, while they have not lost to a nation from that region since a 2-1 defeat versus Curacao in the final of that previously mentioned tournament in 2017.
As much as the senior team have thrived in past CONCACAF competitions, there is concern about a lack of development within the youth systems in Jamaica with the core of this group over the age of 30.
Their only victory in League A occurred when the Reggae Boyz found the back of the net in the second half (3-1 win over Suriname), while they have only dropped points one time in the history of this tournament when doing so (1-1 versus Guyana in 2019).
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Haiti had their chances on matchday one but could not find a breakthrough, extending their winless run to three matches in all competitions.
La Selection Nationale are still without a victory in League A, netting a goal or fewer in all five matches played in the top tier.
Friday was only the second time this team had failed to find the back of the net in League A, though they have earned at least a point in 10 successive matches in this competition.
From a technical standpoint, the appointment of Gabriel Calderon Pellegrino seems to have improved their qualities in the attack, with the Haitians scoring in every match played under the Argentine before Friday, though they have also conceded in four of their previous five encounters.
Les Grenadiers may not have an established superstar, but collectively, this is a strong squad who have played together for a while and are considered one of the favourites to advance out of Group B behind Jamaica.
In November 2016, the Haitians finally got the better of Jamaica on the international stage, earning a 2-0 victory at Independence Park, thus ending an 11-match winless run against the Reggae Boyz, which lasted over 19 years.
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Team News
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Tayvon Gray and Renaldo Cephas each collected their first caps for the Reggae Boyz on Friday, Shamar Nicholson is now just eight appearances away from 50, while Kasey Palmer made his first career start with the national team with the Coventry City midfielder earning his second appearance for the senior squad.
Adrian Mariappa needs three more caps to reach 75 with the Jamaicans, while Kevon Lambert is one appearance away from 25.
Demarai Gray notched his third international goal in his sixth appearance, while Bobby Decordova-Reid has a goal involvement in his last two Nations League contests and Jahmali Waite made two stops for a clean sheet against Honduras, picking up his sixth cap along the way.
There were four changes made to the Haitian opening lineup against Cuba from the side that started their final Gold Cup clash this summer against Honduras, with Johny Placide, Jeppe Simonsen, Djimy Alexis and Mondy Prunier replacing Alexandre Pierre, Carlens Arcus, Duckens Nazon and Frantzdy Pierrot.
Placide moved into fifth in all-time caps with Les Grenadiers as he made his 62nd appearance earlier this week, which puts him ahead of Wilde-Donald Guerrier, while Alex Junior Christian is now two appearances away from 50 and Derrick Etienne needs five more caps to reach that mark himself.
Goals from Nazon and Kevin Lafrance helped the Haitians defeat Jamaica 2-0 the last time these teams faced each other, with Placide picking up a clean sheet on that occasion.
Jamaica possible starting lineup:
Blake; T. Gray, Lowe, Pinnock, Bell; Johnson, Lautibeaudiere, Lambert; Bailey, Decordova-Reid, D. Gray
Haiti possible starting lineup:
Placide; Arcus, Ade, Seance, Christian; Jacques, Alexis, Sainte; Louima, Prunier, Etienne
We say: Jamaica 2-0 Haiti
The Reggae Boyz have dominated Caribbean nations through the years, and we believe their experience and defensive stability will be able to shut down some quality Haitian attackers, while they have plenty of attacking depth themselves even without Michail Antonio.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
