Will the Canaleros keep it tight at home?
With just five games remaining in the 3rd round of CONCACAF World Cup Quali 2022 and seven points behind fourth place, Jamaica have only a theoretical chance of at least reaching the intercontinental play-offs. But if the Reggae Boyz are to grasp their last straw, they will need an away win at the Panamanian side, who currently occupy fourth place.
The Canaleros would still be in the play-offs as things stand, but are only two points clear of fifth place after a 1-0 defeat in Costa Rica on Thursday. Accordingly, a home win over the Reggae Boyz is important. In the run-up to the clash between Panama and Jamaica, the odds are swinging in favour of the home side.
The Panamanian side didn’t give the Jamaicans a chance in the first leg, winning 3-0 away in Kingston. The aim now is to build on that. With Mexico only three points behind, direct qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is still a long way off.
Panama – Statistics & current form
The Panamanian national football team made history just four years ago. After numerous close qualifying rounds, the Central American nation qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia for the first time.
Admittedly, the Canaleros failed miserably in the preliminary round with three defeats and 2:11 goals. Nevertheless, Thomas Christiansen’s team has tasted blood at this tournament and would like to be part of the team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Won four of the nine qualifying matches
The Marea Roja are currently well on course for this endeavour. Panama won four of their first nine games in the 3rd round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying (two draws, three losses) and are currently in fourth place.
However, after two important trebles against Honduras (3:2) and El Salvador (2:1), they suffered a serious setback on Thursday in San José, when they lost 1-0 to rivals Costa Rica.
The three top games against Canada, USA and Mexico are still to come
With the top three games against Canada, the USA and Mexico still to come, the Canaleros must not leave anything undone in this home game against the Reggae Boyz under any circumstances.
If tip 1 doesn’t work out for Panama against Jamaica, the World Cup would become a distant memory for Thomas Christiansen’s men, who have been in such a good position so far. The fact that the 63rd-ranked team in the FIFA World Ranking will have to do without goalkeeper Abdiel Arroyo in this match due to an infection does not make the situation any easier.
Predicted Panama line-up:
Mejía – Davis – Andrade – Escobar – Murillo – Góndola – Carrasquilla – Godoy – Rodríguez – Fajardo – Bárcenas
Last matches played by Panama:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
01/28 2022 – Costa Rica 1 – 0 Panama
Friendly match
01/16 2022 – Peru 1 – 1 Panama
World Cup Qualifier CONCACAF Finals
11/17 2021 – Panama 2 – 1 El Salvador
11/13 2021 – Honduras 2 – 3 Panama
10/14 2021 – Canada 4 – 1 Panama
Jamaica – Statistics & current form
The Jamaican national football team has only ever successfully qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France. Since then, the Reggae Boyz have been waiting to finally punch their ticket to a World Cup final.
It is unlikely that the 24-year drought will end now. With only one win from their nine matches so far in the 3rd round of the 2022 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers, Jamaica are currently only sixth in their group of eight. They are already seven points off fourth place.
Jamaica need the away win to keep their remaining chance alive
However, Paul Hall’s side have it in their own hands to close the gap on fourth place to as much as four points in this away match at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City. If Panama and Costa Rica drop a point or two and the Reggae Boyz start another series, at least the play-offs would still be possible.
A defeat in Panama, however, would increase the gap to fourth place to ten points with only twelve points still to be awarded. In short, if the Jamaican national team does not manage an away win, its already slim chance of making the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is likely to drop into the per mille range.
Five of last eight internationals lost to Panama
Paul Hall’s side will travel to Panama City as underdogs anyway.
The fact that Damion Lowe, a key defensive player, was sent off with a red card in the 2-1 home defeat to Mexico during the week and is now suspended in Panama reduces the chances of the Jamaican national football team even more. Last but not least, only one of the last eight international matches has been won against the Panamanian side (two draws, five defeats).
Predicted Jamaica line-up:
Blake – Lawrence – Pinnock – Moore – Brown – Williams – Flemmings – Johnson – Morrison – Walker – Antonio
Last matches played by Jamaica:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
01/28 2022 – Jamaica 1 – 2 Mexico
Friendly match
01/21 2022 – Peru 3 – 0 Jamaica
World Cup Qualifier CONCACAF Finals
11/16 2021 – Jamaica 1 – 1 USA
11/13 2021 – El Salvador 1 – 1 Jamaica
10/14 2021 – Honduras 0 – 2 Jamaica
Panama – Jamaica Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 9 – 7 – 3
There have been a total of 19 meetings between the two nations so far and the Canaleros lead the direct comparison with nine victories. Most recently, Panama left no stone unturned in the first leg in Kingston, taking the three points from Jamaica in a 3-0 away win.
Panama – Jamaica Tip
Panama vs Jamaica prediction goes in the direction of the Canaleros, also in view of the clear “head to head” balance and the clear 3:0 from the first leg. The Panamanian side suffered a serious setback in Costa Rica last week in the fight for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Jamaica, on the other hand, have not won any of their last four internationals and go into this complicated home match in a decidedly lacklustre state of form.
So we find a lot of value in the supposed favourite tip, which is why we are betting on a home win for the Canaleros, who also need the three-goal win at home in view of the complicated remaining programme.
