Matchday 3 of Group B competitions in the CONCACAF 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament will be bannered by a matchup between two tough teams Jamaica (1-1-0, 3 points) and Costa Rica (2-0-0, 6 points) at the Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica on March 25th, Friday.
Jamaica, runners-up to Mexico during last year's CONCACAF Gold Cup held in the US and Canada, was defeated by Panama at their home field of Independence Park in their opening game of the said tourney.
However, the Reggae Boyz were able to bounce back in matchday 2 on Nov. 17th last year as they beat Haiti, 1-0, at the Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince, as per Soccerway.
Head coach Winfried Schäfer's boys struggled to score in the first half as the Haitians were able to force a goalless first 45 minutes. England-born Jamaican striker Clayton Donaldson finally found the back of Les Grenadiers' net two minutes after the hour mark which proved to be the game-winner.
With 1-1 win-loss record, the team is currently tied at the second spot with Panama.
Meanwhile, reigning Copa Centroamericana champions Costa Rica won their first two games of the group stage to remain undefeated after two matchdays.
La Sele defeated Haiti, 1-0, in their opener at their home field of Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San José before following it up with a tough 2-1 victory over Panama in matchday 2 at the Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City, as reported by Goal.
It was a highly defensive match in the first half and most of the second as well before manager Oscar Ramírez's men were able to break through Panama's defense at the 66th minute with a goal from team captain Bryan Ruiz.
Costa Rica striker Marco Ureña doubled the lead just three minutes later, but Los Canaleros forward Luis Tejada was able to score what eventually was a consolation goal at the 71st minute before both teams went goalless the rest of the way.
The predicted result is a close 2-1 win for Costa Rica.
Jamaica starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Blake; Mariappa, Phillips, Morgan, Lawrence; Powell, Hector; Williamson, McAnuff, Watson; Donaldson
Costa Rica starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Pemberton; Gamboa, Gonzalez, Waston, Acosta; Matarrita, Azofeifa, Granados; Ruiz, Ureña, Campbell