Kingston offered Guatemala the promise of a memorable opening night in the Concacaf Nations League, then took it away in added time. Luis Fernando Tena’s side led inside the first minute, recovered from a second-half deficit, and still left Jamaica empty-handed after Renaldo Cephas struck in the fourth minute beyond the 90.
Óscar Santis had given the visitors an extraordinary start. The Guatemala forward seized on a lapse in the Jamaican back line, carried the ball from midfield and beat goalkeeper Andre Blake to make it 1-0 almost immediately.
Jamaica gradually settled into the contest and began testing Kenderson Navarro, who made interventions to preserve the early advantage. Guatemala had a chance to stretch the lead when Santis created an opening for Rudy Muñoz, but the opportunity was not converted.
A night of turns in Kingston
The home side’s pressure finally brought an equaliser before the interval. Guatemala lost possession while attempting to play out, allowing Kasey Palmer to take advantage and finish past Navarro for 1-1.
Eight minutes after the restart, the Reggae Boyz completed their first turnaround. Rumarn Burrell collected the ball in the penalty area and sent a low angled effort beyond the Guatemalan goalkeeper to put Jamaica ahead 2-1.
Guatemala’s response came through Santis again. Darwin Lom slipped a pass into his path, and the forward finished past Blake for his second goal of the evening, restoring parity at 2-2 when Tena’s team appeared to be under its greatest strain.
For a time, the draw seemed set to carry Guatemala away from the Caribbean with a valuable point. Jamaica continued to work the right flank in the closing minutes, however, and Cephas delivered the decisive moment at 90+4. His goal completed a 3-2 victory for the hosts and ensured that Santis’s double was not enough to give Guatemala a return from its Nations League opener.
