After sitting on the bench during Jamaica’s 2-0 defeat against Panama last Friday, Andre Blake helped the Reggae Boyz defeat Haiti 1-0 in the team’s second match of CONCACAF’s Fourth Round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Tuesday night.
Jamaica and Haiti met earlier this year in the Gold Cup semifinals; a game that ended with the same 1-0 score line. Tuesday night’s match was one that many viewed as a must win for both teams as Haiti also fell (1-0 to Costa Rica on Nov. 13) in their opening match of the Fourth Round.
“I thought I was going to play in the first game but for whatever reason the coach didn't play me,” said Blake. “I kept myself mentally prepared so when my number was called for the game against Haiti, I was up and ready to play.”
A game driven by the midfield, both teams looked to build a strong attack but failed to connect passes. Haiti had the first look on goal late into the first half causing Blake to make the first of very few saves.
Haiti´s Jeff Louis shot from edge of the 18-yard box lofting the ball towards the top right hand corner of the goal, but Blake’s jumping save from the six-yard box sent the ball above the crossbar.
“The games that seem quiet are sometimes the hardest games to stay focused in so for me, the game wasn't easy at all,” said Blake. “I had to make sure I was ready and found different ways to keep myself in the game.”
After the first half ended 0-0, it was Jamaica that found the back of the net from a corner kick in the 64 minute. Unmarked Clayton Donaldson headed the ball into Johny Placide’s goal.
Haiti looked for the equalizer, but Blake´s critical positioning on various occasions prevented the Grenadiers from finding the back of the net. In the last few minutes of the second half, Duckens Nazon had one last attempt in the Stade Sylvio Cator to make the score 1-1, but the ball went over the cross bar.
The Reggae Boyz have not qualified for the World Cup since 1998, but after winning the 2014 Caribbean Cup and finishing in second place at the 2015 Gold Cup, qualifying may be the next step in this historical run.
The task will not be without challenges as they are in third place in Group B behind Costa Rica and Panama and will face the Ticos in March 2016 for the third match of the Fourth Round. Costa Rica´s run in Brazil’s 2014 World Cup caught the attention of many as they reached the quarterfinals for the first time in team history and defeated the likes of Uruguay and Italy in the group stages.
“It's a tough group to be in but the aim is to remain focused and do your best to be the top two in the group to advance,” said Blake.
This season, Blake started six MLS games for the Philadelphia Union and made 26 saves, ending the season with a 2-3-1 record. Against New England on Sept. 26, the No. 1 pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft made 10 saves and broke the Union´s single-game franchise record for saves.
In 2015, Blake received five calls ups for the Jamaican National Team and has played a total of 12 games for his country. He started in September’s World Cup Qualifier against Honduras and the international friendly against South Korea in October. Blake also played a large role in the 2014 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup championship in which Jamaica defeated Trinidad and Tobago in the final.
