Nicholson provides Boyz inspiration

Shamar Nicholson was the hero for the Reggae Boyz last night as he scored two goals within four minutes to propel them to the Conmebol Copa America and the Concacaf Nations League finals after they drew 4-4 on aggregate with hosts Canada at the BMO Stadium in Ontario, Canada last night.

Jamaica won the match 3-2, but with the away-goal rule in effect, they advanced to the finals of the Nations League in March next year. The Reggae Boyz lost the first-leg 2-1 at the National Stadium last Saturday, in a match which was postponed from Friday evening, because of the weather system that affected the island late last week.

Nicholson scored in the 62nd and 66th minutes to place Jamaica in the ascendency in the match, after Alphonso Davis had increased the Canadians advantage from the first leg, when he pierced Jamaica's net in the 25th minute.

Ismael Kone, however, further simplified the Canadians' progression when he scored in the 69th minute to pull Canada 2-2 in the match and leading 4-3 on aggregate, but Bobby Reid's penalty in the 84th minute, advanced the Jamaicans, even though Demarai Gray was ejected by the referee in the 84th minute.

Canada held a slight upper hand in the first half and were rewarded for their effort when Davis finished a defence-splitting pass from midfield to the right of the Reggae Boyz's area, that was eventually laid into his path to score.

Facing a delay in qualification, Jamaica started the second stanza with purpose with Leon Bailey hitting the goalpost early and eventually reduced the aggregate to 3-2, after they forced the Canadians into an error in their defensive third, with Nicholson providing a clinical finish.

Canada were not done and Kone provided the goal for the thousands in the stadium to celebrate, when he headed the ball into the back of the net to place Canada ahead once again on aggregate, with the score in the match tied 2-2.

Jamaica continued to work at their target, and eventually gained the advantage, when a defender blocked an attack with his hand, and Reid converted from the spot.