Jamaica's young Reggae Boyz kept their hopes of booking a place in the youth World Cup in Egypt later this year in good stead, after getting by El Salvador 2-1 at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago yesterday, despite going down to nine men late in the second half.
Romario Campbell gave the Jamaicans a dream start when he netted in the eighth minute.
However, El Salvador were soon level through the efforts of Herbert Arnold Sosa, who equalised three minutes later.
El Salvador were reduced to 10 men when Nelson Rivera was given his marching orders for a crunching tackle on striker Dever Orgil in the 32nd minute.
Numbers even
However, just six minutes later the numbers were even as Jamaica captain Andre Derby was also sent early to the showers.
The team certainly looked in danger of falling apart when Orgill was sent off at the 44th minute.
"At half-time, the team the management decided to just forget about everything that happened in the first half and go out to get the result," manager Roy Simpson said.
"In a tournament like this, we knew that a second loss would have put us out of it and we needed to have our destiny in our own hands," he added.
Despite the win, the team will be without both Orgill and Derby when they suit up for their final preliminary game against Honduras tomorrow.
"They are two very important players to the team, but based on the type of resolve they showed tonight, I have no doubt they will be able to step up," Simpson said of the Jamaica team.
Chances surge
The Under-20s also saw their chances surge after Honduras and United States of America (USA) played their way into a 0-0 draw in the evening's second game. The result sees the USA, who beat Jamaica 3-0 in the opening game, lead the group on four points, followed by Jamaica on three, Honduras on two and El Salvador on one.
A win for the Jamaicans in their final game of the tournament will ensure their progression to the final. Honduras and El Salvador played their way to a 2-2 draw in the group's first game.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals and earn a berth in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be played in Egypt from September 24 to October 16 this year.