Jamaica defeated New Caledonia 1-0 on Thursday in an intercontinental playoff match played at the Akron stadium in Guadalajara, and will face the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on March 31 at the same venue for a place in the 2026 World Cup. Bailey Cadamarteri scored the only goal of the match.
The Jamaicans, the 70th-ranked team in the FIFA rankings, dominated the New Caledonia team, ranked 150th in the world, from the start, with Bailey Cadamarteri and Tyreece Campbell as the main offensive leaders.
Imposing their dominance from the start
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Jamaica reflected its superiority over New Caledonia in the 18th minute.
Ronaldo Webster’s low shot from a foul outside the box went under the wall and was poorly dealt with by goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine.
On the rebound Cadamarteri sent the ball into the net for the 0-1.
Cadamarteri let the second slip away in the 39th minute, in a play on the right in which he shot at the far post, but now Nyikeine kept the ball.
Cadamarteri scored the only goal of the match
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New Caledonia had its clearest chance in the 42nd minute when Jean-Jacques Katrawa’s shot was saved by Andre Blake of Jamaica.
The second half was a back-and-forth affair in which the Jamaican side generated the best chances, but Campbell and Cadamarteri were unable to hit the target.
In the final minutes, New Caledonia went for the equalizer, although the poor technique of their players prevented them from scoring.
Technical data
New Caledonia: Rocky Nyikeine; Fonzy Ranchain (Germain Haewegene, m.83), Morgan Mathelon, Didier Simane, Joseph Athale; Jekob Jeno, Joris Kenon, Angelo Fulgini; Cesar Zeoula (Shene Welepane, m.83), Georges Gope-Fenepej (Lues Waya, m.75), Jean-Jacques Katrawa (Kakua Waia, m.68).
Coach: Johann Sidaner.
1. Jamaica: Andre Blake; Ethan Pinnock, Richard King (Amarii Bell, m.84), Joel Latibeaudiere, Ronaldo Webster; Ephron Mason-Clark (Damion Lowe, m.84), Isaac Hayden, Karoy Anderson; Andre Brooks (Bobby de Cordova-Reid, m.46), Bailey Cadamarteri (Jamal Lowe, m.79), Tyreece Campbell (Leon Bailey, m.68).
Selection: Rudolph Speid.
Goal: 0-1, minute 18: Cadamarteri.
Referee: Gustavo Tejera, of Uruguay.
Incidents: Intercontinental playoff match for the 2026 World Cup between Jamaica and New Caledonia played at the Akron stadium in Guadalajara (Jalisco).
With information from EFE
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