Coach Hallgrimsson dissed referee as Jamaica’s Copa ‘curse’ continues

Wednesday’s loss means they are virtually out of the 2024 Copa America as they sit bottom of the group.

Jamaica REGGAE Boyz Head Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson believes refereeing decisions cost his team a potential positive result as they went down 1-3 to Ecuador at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hallgrimsson said the outcome of the match could have gone differently had some calls gone their way.

“I thought we should have had a penalty, like Ecuador had a penalty. I don’t see a difference between the two instances so I don’t know why the referee, after looking at it, decided not to give us a penalty but decided to give them a penalty. I cannot, for the love of God, I don’t want to say much but I don’t understand the difference between those two,” he said after the match.

After going one-nil down in the opening 13 minutes through a Kasey Palmer own goal, Chilean Referee Cristian Reyes awarded a penalty to Ecuador late in first-half stoppage time, for a handball.

Ecuador’s Felix Torres’ header hit the elbow of defender Greg Leigh in the box and, after a lengthy VAR check, Reyes went to the monitor and the penalty was given. Teenage sensation Kendry Paez, who is set to join English giants Chelsea next summer, converted from the spot despite goalkeeper Jahmali Waite diving the right way.

After some adjustments at half-time Jamaica found some life and were rewarded in the 54th when Ethan Pinnock latched onto Palmer’s cross, and when his effort was blocked Michail Antonio latched onto the rebound and fired home from close range for Jamaica to trail 1-2. It was Jamaica’s first-ever goal at the tournament after going scoreless in 2015 and 2016.

However, the Boyz felt hard done by when they didn’t get a penalty of their own shortly after the 70th minute. Michael Hector toed the ball onto the outstretched hand of Steven Franco but Referee Reyes had no issue. It led to a lengthy VAR check and Reyes was recommended to go to the monitor. However, he stood by his on-field decision and play continued.

In search of an equaliser, Jamaica conceded a third as Alan Minda García dented their comeback hopes with a deadly counter-attacking move to give Ecuador all three points and keep Jamaica winless at the Copa America in eight attempts.

Hallgrimsson was left perplexed by some of the match officiating.

“I haven’t got the reason. I’ve seen the replay and, for the love of God, I don’t know why this wasn’t a penalty if the other one was a penalty. I can’t answer for [the referee]; I wish they could sit here and answer that question for me.”

He said he was pleased with his team’s fighting spirit in the second half, after struggling in the opening 45 minutes.

“I think it was just more positivity, more power, more on the front foot. We had nothing to lose [being] two under so we decided to go all in. I must give my players credit for everything they gave for the second half; they left everything on the pitch [but], sadly, results didn’t go in our favour. There’s a lot of things that didn’t go to us in this game,” he said.

“I want to give Ecuador congrats from us to win the game, and my friend Felix [Sanchez], but we deserved to have more — especially after the second-half performance.”

Hallgrimsson, though, says he was disappointed in some of his players for not performing well.

“Still, too many players had an off day for us, and when you play this competition at this level you cannot have too many players having an off day. I don’t know why but they kind of surprised us with the power and pressure and, in the beginning, we lost confidence, struggled [with] winning second balls,” he said.

The Jamaicans sit bottom of group B with no points and play Venezuela in their final group game on Sunday.

Jamaica Team

Goalkeeper: Jahmali Waite

Defenders: Dexter Lembikisa (88’), Di’Shon Bernard (45’), Ethan Pinnock, Greg Leigh

Midfielders: Bobby Reid, Damion Lowe (45’), Joel Latibeaudiere (83’), Kasey Palmer,

Forwards: Michail Antonio, Shamar Nicholson (83’)

Substitutes: Demarai Gray (45’), Michael Hector (45’), Kaheim Dixon (83’), Karoy Anderson (83’), Renaldo Cephas (88’)