KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey’s early first half goal proved enough to earn Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz a share of the points in a 1-1 draw with Mexico here Tuesday night, and a place in next year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The 24-year-old struck in the fourth minute to hand the hosts the early lead in the Group A contest of League A at the National Stadium before Luis Romo equalised in first half stoppage.
Major League Soccer standout goalkeeper Andre Blake made a string of top saves to preserve the scoreline as Jamaica climbed to the top of the group on five points, while remaining unbeaten in three outings.

Jamaica were also left to rue several missed chances, however, Shamar Nicholson twice coming close while Bailey came within inches of adding a second goal.

“It was a tough opponent,” Bailey told reporters.

“Everybody knows Mexico but to be able to create so much opportunities against Mexico and getting a point out of this game which we should’ve won, it shows we have a far way to go but we’re doing well moving forward as a team.

“This is what we need going forward and we’ll continue to build on this.”

Jamaica found the back of the nets with their first real attack of the game, Nicholson racing down the left flank and whipping a cross into the box where Bailey spit defenders Jesus Gallardo and Jesus Alberto Angulo to send a powerful header past goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota.

And the hosts should have doubled their lead in the ninth minute when Junior Flemmings’ corner found Nicholson in the box but the Spartak Moscow forward could only find the crossbar with his leaping header.

Blake twice kept out Mexican attempts at the other end before Bailey came close to his second goal, driving down the right and cutting inside before sending a curling left-footed shot inches around the far post from 15 yards.

Jamaica were left cursing their missed opportunities when Mexico drew level with the final kick of the half, Luis Chavez floating a spot kick into the area for Romo to out-muscle Damion Lowe and beat Blake diving to his right.

Full back Kevin Alvarez then cleared Nicholson’s chip off the line in the 51st minute to spare Mexico further blushes and Blake played his part in ensuring Jamaica did not slip up.

At the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, Guyana suffered a second straight six-goal thrashing at the hands of Haiti when they went down 6-0 in Group B of League B.

Fresh off a 6-2 drubbing in Georgetown last week, Guyana were once again put to the sword by the French Caribbean side, Mondy Prunier (48th, 76th) and Carnejy Antoine (87’th, 89th) before lashing in second half braces.

Alex Christian gave Haiti a 39th minute lead when he smashed home a rebound after Derrick Etienne’s free kick had struck the bottom of the uprights, a scoreline which held until the break.

The floodgates opened thereafter, however, Prunier’s point blank header at the far post doubling Haiti’s advantage and Simonsen Jeppe Friborg 63rd minute strike stretching the lead even further.

Prunier got his second from the top of the 18-yard box before Antoine scored twice in three minutes at the death.

Guyana remained second on six points, four adrift of unbeaten Haiti who have secured Gold Cup qualification and promotion to League A.

Also in Group B, French Guiana edged Belize 1-0 in Cayenne while in Group A of League C, Bonaire beat the US Virgin Islands 1-0 in Willemstad and Turks and Caicos Islands defeated Sint Maarten by the same margin in Providenciales.