Preview: Honduras vs. Jamaica

Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s CONCACAF Nations League clash between Honduras and Jamaica, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

The final matchday two encounter in Group B at the CONCACAF Nations League will feature Honduras and Jamaica, who face each other at Estadio Nacional Chelato Ucles on Tuesday.

Los Catrachos claimed a convincing 4-0 triumph over Trinidad and Tobago on matchday one, while the Reggae Boyz had to settle for a 0-0 draw with Cuba.

Match preview
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After trading chances with the Soca Warriors in the opening half hour on Friday, a brilliant long-range strike put the Hondurans in front six minutes before the interval on matchday one.

After that, it was one-way traffic for Reinaldo Rueda’s side as they netted three more goals, winning for the third time in the last four competitive fixtures.

All of those victories were convincing ones for La H who scored three or more goals in each of those triumphs while winning their previous two Nations League contests by a combined 8-0 margin.

In recent games, this side have scored many goals, and in this competition, Honduras have been equally sharp defensively, not conceding a goal in their last five Nations League group fixtures.

La H have won their last six matches versus CONCACAF sides in Honduras and have not lost to a team from this region in their home country since suffering a 2-1 defeat against Curacao at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in June 2022.

Honduras have only conceded one opening-half goal in their previous seven Nations League affairs and have never won a game at this tournament in normal time when allowing a goal in the first 45 minutes.

In his opening match as Jamaican manager, Steve McClaren saw his side waste numerous golden opportunities against Cuba, as the Reggae Boyz are now winless in four successive matches across all competitions.

Despite playing the entire second half up a man and having 73% possession throughout the match, they could not find that decisive breakthrough, failing to score for the third time in four games.

While they have lost their last three matches played outside Jamaica, this team have never been beaten away from home in the group stage of this competition.

In this tournament a year ago, two of their three away victories occurred when conceding first, while their only defeat as the visitors occurred when they drew first blood, losing 3-1 in extra-time of their semi-final encounter against the USA.

They have not lost to a Central American opponent since a 1-0 defeat at home to Costa Rica in a February 2022 World Cup qualifier.

Jamaica are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Honduras, winning five in a row against them, including a 2-0 victory in San Pedro Sula back in October 2021.

Honduras CONCACAF Nations League form:

Honduras form (all competitions):

Jamaica CONCACAF Nations League form:

Jamaica form (all competitions):

Team News
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With Honduras up by four goals in the latter stages of their opener, Ruedas gave Juan Carlos Obregon his first cap with the senior side, bringing him on in place of Edwin Rodriguez, leaving Jesus Batiz as the only player chosen for this window without an appearance for La H.

Alexander Lopez scored a screamer from outside the box to put his side in front on matchday one, with the other strikes coming courtesy of Kervin Arriaga, Rodriguez and David Ruiz, the first for the Inter Miami man in Honduran colours.

Because Leon Bailey was omitted from the Jamaican squad with an injury, Jamal Lowe started in the attack alongside Michail Antonio versus Cuba, while McClaren curiously had the leading goalscorer at this tournament last year, Shamar Nicholson on the bench to begin their opener before bringing him on to replace Lowe in the second half.

Andre Blake did not have to make a single stop on Friday to collect his second successive clean sheet at this tournament in his 76th appearance for the national team.

Honduras possible starting lineup:
Menjivar; Nunez, Maldonado, Vega, Rosales; Rodriguez, Arriaga, Flores, Ruiz; Martinez; Lozano

Jamaica possible starting lineup:
Blake; Lembikisa, Bernard, Pinnock, Bell; Decordova-Reid, Palmer, Latibeaudiere, Gray; Nicholson, Antonio

We say: Honduras 1-1 Jamaica
For as wasteful as the Jamaicans were on matchday one, we expect them to bounce back and earn something against a Honduran side that they have had success against recently.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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