Lembikisa laser fires Jamaica to win in Third-Place Match

ARLINGTON, Texas – Dexter Lembikisa’s first half laser fired Jamaica to a 1-0 victory against Panama in the Third-Place Match of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League Finals on Sunday evening at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

With the victory, Jamaica becomes the first team from the Caribbean in history to finish on the podium in the Concacaf Nations League Finals. It is Jamaica's fourth win against Panama in history and the first since the quarterfinals of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup.

It was a quiet start from the two teams, but things came to life in the 19’ when Jamaica FW Shamar Nicholson had two excellent cracks at goal but was denied by Panama GK Orlando Mosquera and then had his follow-up cleared off the goal-line.

Mosquera had to be alert again in the 29’, diving to his right to parry a Demarai Gray shot to safety.

At the third time of asking, Jamaica would get the breakthrough on a sizzling shot from outside the area by Lembikisa, who hauled in a pass, made a cut to his left and fired into the top left corner of net in the 41’ for a 1-0 Jamaica lead. It was Lembikisa’s first goal with Jamaica.

Panama tried to respond before halftime and had a great look at goal through Jose Rodriguez, only for Jamaica GK Andre Blake to make the necessary stop.

Jamaica had no plans to sit back and absorb pressure in the second half. They came out searching for a goal and almost got a second in the 60’ when a Damion Lowe chip bounced off the crossbar.

Time was running out on Panama, as they sought to put pressure on the Jamaican defense in search of an equalizer.

It turned out that Blake did not have much to do in the final minutes, as the Jamaican midfield and defense put the clamps down on the Panama attack to secure the clean sheet victory.