El Salvador head into a fixture with Jamaica on Friday at the National Stadium of Independence, looking for a win that will keep their slim hopes of qualifying for World Cup 2022 alive.
The hosts are out of the running for a place in Qatar with seven points after 11 matches, while La Selecta can finish fourth at this point, which could earn them a place in the inter-confederation playoffs.
Jamaica’s dream of a second ever trip to the finals will have to wait, having officially been eliminated from World Cup contention in February by Costa Rica with a 1-0 defeat.
The Reggae Boyz seemed to be on a return path to contending for a place in the upcoming tournament, after having been unbeaten in their final three qualifying fixtures of 2021.
However, that run was not enough for Theodore Whitmore to maintain his position as manager, but his replacement Paul Hall has not won a match since taking over on an interim basis.
Unlike other nations in the region, Jamaica have not always been able to have their best players readily available for matches because of COVID restrictions with overseas travellers.
Meanwhile, El Salvador are still in contention to make it to their first World Cup since 1982, but there is no longer any room for error.
With so much at stake for the team, the last thing they needed was a distraction, but unfortunately disruption off the field captured the headlines in El Salvador before their game against Canada, which they lost 2-0.
The players had threatened not to play prior to that game, after being reproached by the Salvadorian Football Federation for talking to the media about having to purchase cold weather gear out of their own pockets before their January qualifier against the USA in Columbus.
Jamaica vs El Salvador head to head
The two teams have previously met on 20 occasions across all competitions, where Jamaica have taken nine victories while El Salvador have won five, while they have drawn in six. Jamaica have scored 22 goals and conceded 15. In their last five meetings, both have won once and drawn in three.
Jamaica 1-0 El Salvador 15/07/15
Jamaica 1-1 El Salvador 17/07/17
El Salvador 2-0 Jamaica 24/03/19
El Salvador 0-0 Jamaica 22/06/19
El Salvador 1-1 Jamaica 13/11/21
Jamaica latest home form
Jamaica have recently been on a poor run of form at home, having failed to win in any of their five most recent matches. In their last, they lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in the World Cup Qualification Concacaf. In their last five matches, they have scored two goals and conceded seven.
Jamaica 0-3 Panama 06/09/21
Jamaica 0-0 Canada 11/10/21
Jamaica 1-1 United States 17/11/21
Jamaica 1-2 Mexico 28/01/22
Jamaica 0-1 Costa Rica 03/02/22
Jamaica latest away form
Jamaica have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won only one of their nine most recent matches. They managed to defeat Honduras 2-0 in the World Cup Qualification Concacaf on October 14. In their last five, they have scored five goals and conceded nine.
United States 2-0 Jamaica 08/10/21
Honduras 0-2 Jamaica 14/10/21
El Salvador 1-1 Jamaica 13/11/21
Peru 3-0 Jamaica 21/01/22
Panama 3-2 Jamaica 31/01/22
El Salvador latest home form
El Salvador have recently been on a poor run of form at home, having failed to win in any of their six most recent matches. Their last home victory came on October 8 when they defeated Panama 1-0. In their last five matches, they have scored two goals and conceded six.
El Salvador 0-1 Bolivia 06/11/21
El Salvador 1-1 Jamaica 13/11/21
El Salvador 1-1 Ecuador 05/12/21
El Salvador 0-1 Chile 12/12/21
El Salvador 0-2 Canada 03/02/22
El Salvador latest away form
El Salvador defeated Honduras 2-0 in their last away game in the World Cup Qualifying. However, they have recently been on a poor run of form on the road, having failed to win in their previous six matches. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded eight.
Canada 3-0 El Salvador 09/09/21
Costa Rica 2-1 El Salvador 11/10/21
Panama 2-1 El Salvador 17/11/21
United States 0-1 El Salvador 28/01/22
Honduras 0-2 El Salvador 31/01/22
Jamaica news
Bobby Decordova-Ried has six goals and six assists in Fulham, while Philadelphia Union keeper Andre Blake has recorded back-to-back clean sheets in MLS.
Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock collected his third international cap against Costa Rica, while Shamar Nicholson is second in goals for his team in the Octagon with two.
El Salvador news
El Salvador captain Alex Roldan rescued a point for his side against Jamaica, while Nelson Bonilla and Darwin Ceren scored in their 2-0 victory over Honduras.
Mario Gonzalez has four clean sheets for his team in Octagon, while Eric Calvillo picked up his third cap in their home defeat to Canada.
Prediction and Odds
Jamaica come into the game determined to finish this qualifying cycle strong, and we believe they have the individual quality to get the job done against the Salvadorians.
Although El Salvador will try and push for an away win here, we see their World Cup dream ending at this level.
Odds: 1 1.90 X 2.10 2 2.35
Probable outcomes
Jamaica 1-0 El Salvador
Jamaica 2-0 El Salvador
Jamaica 2-1 El Salvador
Jamaica 3-1 El Salvador
Jamaica 1-1 El Salvador
