West Ham striker Michail Antonio continues hot streak in front of goal with his first-ever strike for Jamaica as he finishes with a delicate chip… before El Salvador score a 90th-minute equaliser
- Michail Antonio opened the scoring in the 82nd minute on just his second cap
- Jamaica are hoping to reach just the second World Cup in their history after 1998
- However, Alexander Roldan’s equaliser has made that prospect much less likely
- Jamaica are five points off Panama, who occupy the CONCACAF play-off spot
Michail Antonio has opened his account for Jamaica in sublime style as they bid to reach just their second-ever World Cup after 1998.
The in-form West Ham striker – who only received his Jamaican passport in August – broke the deadlock for the Reggae Boyz in the 82nd minute of their match in El Salvador.
A long clearance by Kemar Lawrence was latched onto by the 31-year-old, who shrugged off the efforts of Roberto Dominguez before bearing down on goal.
Michail Antonio celebrates scoring his first Jamaica goal after a brilliant dribble and chip
The West Ham striker picked up the ball near the halfway line before beating Mario Gonzalez
However, a 90th-minute leveller by Alexander Roldan ensured that El Salvador claimed a point
Michail Antonio didn’t feature for England against Slovakia in 2016 under Sam Allardyce
Antonio still had a significant amount of work to do, but he kept his cool to ease past Ronald Rodriguez before dinking over the ball over goalkeeper Mario Gonzalez.
The strike – on just Antonio’s second cap – wasn’t enough to help Theodore Whitmore’s side to all three points though as Alexander Roldan equalised in the 90th minute at the Estadio Cuscutlan.
Jamaica are now five points adrift of Panama, who currently occupy the play-off spot in the CONCACAF section.
The team have time on their side with seven more matches in qualifying remaining to rescue their situation, but Roldan’s reply was undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow.
Antonio – who was called up to play for England by Sam Allardyce and Gareth Southgate before switching allegiance – has been on fire this season, having already hit seven goals for West Ham, six of them in the Premier League as David Moyes’ men currently sit third, just three points off leaders Chelsea.
The 31-year-old is in the form of his life after establishing himself as a No 9 for the Irons
Antonio has seven goals this term for West Ham – who are currently excelling on all fronts
David Moyes’ men sit third in the Premier League and are top of their Europa League group
The Irons are also close to qualifying for the knockout phase of the Europa League as group winners and have a Carabao Cup quarter-final trip to Tottenham to look forward to next month in what has been a fairytale campaign so far.
Jamaica next face group leaders the USA on Tuesday before Antonio returns to the east London outfit, who will be looking to make it five league wins on the spin when they visit Wolves next Saturday.