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JAMAICA’S U17 Reggae Boyz saw their campaign at the Torneo del Sol in Mexico come to an end at the final-eight stage when they were defeated 2-1 by Seleccion Metropolitano yesterday.
The contest proved a tightly fought affair as both teams sought to exert their influence on the game early on in the proceedings.
Yet, despite chances for both team, the game went into the half-time break deadlocked without a goal.
The Boyz would soon fall behind, however, when Hector Rosas opened the scoring in the 49th minute before Yael Pacheco doubled Metropolitano’s lead in the 75th.
Seymour Reid added yet another goal to his tally as he scored a consolation effort in the 85th minute from the penalty spot.
The strike was Reid’s sixth goal of the campaign, the attacker finishing as the team’s leading goalscorer.
The New York City FC Academy striker has been in fine goalscoring form throughout the campaign, scoring a brace in the team’s opening match against Bajio before netting a hat-trick in the deciding group match against Liga Premier.
The win sees Metropolitano advancing to the semi-finals where they have booked a date against Liga Premier.
Mexico U17, the only national team left in the competition, will face off against Occidente in the other semi-final.
The Torneo de Sol was used by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) as the team’s final preparation for the upcoming Concacaf Men’s U17 Qualifiers next month.
The team will now turn their attention to the upcoming assignment, as head coach Altimont ‘Freddie’ Butler is yet to name his final roster.
Jamaica have been drawn in Group H of the qualifiers where they will contest El Salvador, the Cayman Islands, and St Lucia.
The winner of the group will qualify for the 2025 FIFA Men’s U17 World Cup in Qatar, set to be held in November.
Jamaica are hoping they can secure their third-ever appearance at the international age-group competition since their last appearance in 2011. The young Reggae Boyz first qualified for the World Cup in 1999.
Their first match of the qualifier will be against St Lucia on February 10 at the Doroteo Guamuch Flores Stadium in Guatemala.
English (US) ·