Toronto FC teen Jahmarie Nolan assists on Jamaica debut in Nations League win
The Toronto FC II forward set up a goal in a 2-0 victory over El Salvador, becoming Jamaica's youngest-ever debutant.
SAN SALVADOR — Toronto FC youngster Jahmarie Nolan earned his first minutes for the Reggae Boyz on Friday, entering as a second-half substitute and supplying the assist on Jamaica’s insurance marker in a 2-0 Concacaf Nations League A win over El Salvador at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Nolan came off the bench for Jamaica in the 57th minute, and provided an immediate spark for his team, winning a 50-50 challenge on the edge of the box before sliding the ball across the penalty area to Javon East, who completed his brace with a finish into the roof of the net.
His debut made him the youngest debutant for Jamaica, beating out fellow substitute Jamone Lyle, who is four months older than Nolan.
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Jamaica’s night had been simplified for them by their hosts, as El Salvador centre-back Rudy Clavel was sent off in the 20th minute.
Liga MX referee Adonai Escobedo González was steps away when Clavel clattered through East from behind, pulling out the red card from his back pocket almost instantly.
It still took East another 19 minutes, however, to net Jamaica’s opener.
Clavel’s centre-back partner Jorge Cruz failed to deal with a deep Reggae Boyz cross, allowing the ball to fall straight to East to apply the final touch.
Nolan’s rise since becoming Toronto FC’s youngest signing in club history as a 15-year-old has been meteoric.
The Saint Catherine, Jamaica native quickly made a name for himself, playing 19 times in his first season with Toronto FC II in MLS NEXT Pro.
He has followed that up with 10 goals and three assists in 23 games with TFCII this season, along with three short-term call-ups to the Reds’ first team to start the year.
On the international stage, Nolan’s climb has been even more significant.
He won the Best Player Award after helping Jamaica’s U-17s qualify for the U-17 World Cup in February, scoring seven goals in six games, and followed that up with nine goals in nine games for the U-20s, including one against Canada in August in their Concacaf U-20 Championship quarterfinal.
Friday’s win lifted Jamaica up into second out of six teams in Group B, complementing a 3-2 win over Guatemala and 1-0 loss to Honduras in their first two games of the window.
They sit one point behind group leaders Suriname, and two points ahead of third-place Guatemala, owning the head-to-head tiebreaker, ahead of their final match of the group stage, away against Honduras.
Canada, as the third-best team in the Concacaf rankings, will face the second-best group winner, currently Suriname, in the tournament’s two-legged quarterfinals in November.
If current standings hold, Jamaica, as the second-best runner-up would face top-seed Mexico home and away.
With files from Waking The Red