Jamaica upset Canada 3-2 on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League and secure a place at next year’s expanded Copa America to be held in the United States.
A second-half double from Shamar Nicholson and a late Bobby Reid penalty gave the Reggae Boyz a stunning second-leg upset at Toronto’s BMO Field that saw the Jamaicans advance on away goals after the tie ended 4-4 on aggregate.
Canada, who won the first leg 2-1 in Kingston on Saturday, looked headed for the last four after Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies put them 1-0 up on the night, 3-1 on aggregate after 25 minutes.
But Jamaica hit back in the second half with a Nicholson shot into the bottom corner, making it 1-1 after 62 minutes.
Four minutes later, Nicholson made it 2-1 – and equalized on aggregate – by sliding in from close range after a sweeping Jamaican counter-attack.
Yet there was further drama moments later when Ismael Kone equalized with a header to put the Canadians ahead on aggregate.
However, Canada’s relief was short-lived. In the 75th minute, Stephen Eustaquio was adjudged to have tampered with the area and Bobby Reid stepped up to calmly take the penalty that sent Jamaica into the last four.
Jamaica endured a nervy end after being reduced to 10 men following the sending off of Demarai Gray in the 84th minute, but the Reggae Boyz held on to advance.
The loss was a blow to Canada, which qualified for last year’s World Cup for the first time since the 1986 final.
