Seeking to snap their run of seven consecutive games without a win, Jamaica take on Jordan in a friendly matchup at the Wiener Neustadt Ergo Arena on Monday.
The Reggae Boyz are wrapping up preparations for their 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign, which kicks off with a clash with USA at Soldier Field on June 25.
Match preview
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Jamaica returned to action last Thursday when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Qatar in a friendly at the Sonnenseestadion.
Homam Ahmed and Mohammed Muntari scored quick-fire goals to hand Qatar a first-half lead before Shamar Nicholson pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 61st minute.
Jamaica have now failed to win any of their last seven matches across all competitions, including successive draws against Mexico in Group A of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Manager Diego Martin Cocca will be impressed with his side's outing at the Nations League, where they enjoyed an unbeaten campaign and finished just two points behind group winners Mexico.
However, Jamaica head into Monday without a win in their last nine friendly matches, losing six and claiming three draws since a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in November 2020.
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Jordan, on the other hand, were left spitting feathers last Friday when they suffered a 3-2 loss against Serbia after bottling their lead in the final 12 minutes of the game.
Having trailed at half time, Mahmoud Al-Mardi and Musa Al-Taamari found the target to put the Chivalrous Ones ahead but substitute Dejan Joveljic netted a 10-minute brace to turn the game on its head.
Prior to that, Jordan fell to a 3-1 loss at the hands of Spain in their last game in 2022, before kicking off the new year with an emphatic 4-0 victory over the Philippines on March 28.
Jordan follow Monday's game with a trip to the Ullevaal Stadion on September 7 to take on Norway in their seventh straight friendly game since finishing first in the AFC Asia Cup qualifiers in June 2022.
However, Adnan Hamad's men are currently on a run of three defeats in their last four international friendlies away from home, with a 2-0 victory over India in May 2022 being the exception.
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Team News
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With their Gold Cup opener around the corner, Cocca could save a few of his key players, with the likes of Amari'i Bell, Cory Burke and former Crystal Palace defender Adrian Mariappa dropping to the bench.
Teenage sensation Dujuan Richards had a quiet game against Qatar but should retain his place in the XI, while Spartak Moscow striker Nicholson should lead the Reggae Boyz's attack.
At the opposite end of the pitch, we expect Richard King and Manchester United youngster Di'Shon Bernard to form the centre-back pairing, shielding 24-year-old Jahmali Waite between the sticks.
With his strike in Friday's defeat to Serbia, 26-year-old Al-Taamari now has three goals in his last two games for Jordan and will be looking to deliver the goods once again.
The Montpellier man should lead the Chivalrous Ones' attack on Monday, alongside Yazan Abdallah Al-Naimat and Ali Olwan, who has six goals in 17 international appearances.
Hamad opted for a back three against Serbia, and we expect Abdallah Nasib, Yazan Alarab and Mohammad Ali Buhasheesh to form the defensive line once again.
Jamaica possible starting lineup:
Waite; Lembikisa, King, Bernard, Latibeaudiere, Brown; Russell, Parris, Richards, Johnson; Nicholson
Jordan possible starting lineup:
Abulaiba; Nasib, Alarab, Ali Buhasheesh; Haddad, Sadeh, Al-Rawabdeh, Al-Mardi; Al-Taamari, Olwan, Al-Naimat
We say: Jamaica 1-1 Jordan
Jordan will head into Monday's game with confidence following their impressive display in the weekend loss against Serbia. Hamad's men take on a Jamaica side who are without a win in seven straight matches and we predict they will hold out for a share of the spoils at the Wiener Neustadt Ergo Arena.
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