Nicaragua welcome Jamaica to Managua for a CONCACAF Nations League fixture on Thursday (October 10th). The hosts are coming into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw away to Cuba in the Nations League last month.
They went behind to Karel Espino's 42nd-minute penalty but Widman Talavera equalized deep into second half injury time.
Jamaica, meanwhile, claimed a 2-1 away win over Honduras. All three goals were scored in the second half, with Denil Maldonado's own goal putting The Reggae Boyz ahead in the 49th minute, while David Ruiz equalized just one minute later. Michail Antonio scored the match-winner for Jamaica from the penalty spot in the 76th minute.
The win took Steve McClaren's side joint-top of Group B, having garnered four points from two games. Nicaragua are level on points with Jamaica.
Nicaragua vs Jamaica Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the third meeting between the two sides. They each have a win apiece.
- Nicaragua are unbeaten in their last five games (three wins).
- Four of Jamaica's last six games have produced over 2.5 goals.
- Six of Nicaragua's last eight games have produced less than three goals.
- Eight of Nicaragua's last 11 games have seen at least one side fail to find the back of the net.
- Jamaica form guide: W-D-L-L-L Nicaragua form guide: D-W-W-W-D
- Jamaica dropped two spots to 61st in the latest FIFA World Rankings. Nicaragua dropped one place to 131st.
Nicaragua vs Jamaica Prediction
Nicaragua are the more in-form side heading into this fixture and having home support behind them will also give La Azul y Blanco an extra boost. Although Marco Antonio Figueroa's men enter this game as pre-game outsiders, they will be unfazed by their visitors.
Jamaica have seen an influx of proven top-flight players switch international allegiance to the Caribbean nation over the last few years (mostly from England). However, this has not led to an improvement in their fortunes on the field as expected and they had a horrendous showing at the Copa America last summer, losing all three games in a group stage exit.
Steve McClaren's side ended a four-game winless run with their victory over Honduras and will be hoping to capitalize on this.
We are backing the visitors to claim a narrow win with goals at both ends.
Prediction: Nicaragua 1-2 Jamaica
Nicaragua vs Jamaica Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Jamaica to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 2.5 goals