Leon Bailey and Jonathan Russell scored shortly before halftime, leading Jamaica to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Guadeloupe on Friday in a CONCACAF Gold Cup match at San Jose, Calif.
Guadeloupe jumped on top thanks to a goal from Thierry Ambrose in the 32nd minute, but they couldn’t maintain the lead.
The result was needed for Jamaica (1-1-0, 3 points), which lost its opening match in Group C to Guatemala 1-0 on Monday. Later Friday, Guatemala was set to face Panama, who earned a 5-2 win over Guadeloupe (0-2-0, 0 points) in their Group C opener.
In the 41st minute, Warner Brown’s square pass across the top of the 18-yard box set up Bailey for a left-footed shot from just above the penalty spot. Bailey fired the ball into the net to the right of Guadeloupe goalkeeper Brice Cognard to level the score at 1-1.
Jamaica moved in front in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time. Demarai Gray dribbled into the box from the left flank and delivered a cross that Russell headed in on one bounce.
Ambrose’s goal was the result of a well-worked corner-kick routine, as he took a pass in the 18-yard box from Noah Cadiou and rolled the ball in the bottom left corner.
Jamaica will face Panama on Tuesday in Austin, Texas, at the same time that Guadeloupe will oppose Guatemala in Houston.
–Field Level Media
