Jamaica's Reggae Boyz battled out of a two-goal hole to snatch an important win from the jaws of defeat in Guyana.

By half-time, the Golden Jaguars had made home advantage pay, carrying a 2-0 lead into the break, thanks to a brace from defender Adrian Butters. The Kaieteur News reports the game turned against the home team in the second half, in a five-minute spell that saw New England Revolution's Je-Vaughn Watson (captaining the Reggae Boyz for the night) grab a goal back for the visitors and Guyana defender Walter Moore sent off.

But when Jamaica missed a penalty in the 76th minute, it seemed perhaps the Jaguars might be able to hold on for the win. The Reggae Boyz, however, were not to be denied: Dicoy Williams found an equalizer in the dying minutes of the second half to force extra time.

Guyana didn't have the necessary fitness to keep pace with Jamaica for another 30 minutes, and the Reggae Boyz pressed home their advantage. Goals for San Jose Earthquakes' Shaun Francis and Bethlehem Steel's Cory Burke secured the win for Jamaica.

SNY's Brendan Joseph found confirmation that the New York Red Bulls' Kemar Lawrence did play in the match.

The win sets Jamaica up for a solid shot at qualifying for next year's Gold Cup. It will have to play Suriname at a date to be confirmed, but that game will at least be at home. Despite the challenge presented by Guyana, the Reggae Boyz are firm favorites to win their Caribbean Cup qualifying group and will be expected to beat Suriname if able to call on anything resembling a senior international squad.