Palmer in World Cup play-off final with Jamaica but Luton duo suffer heartbreak

Luton midfielder Kasey Palmer is one game away from qualifying for the World Cup with Jamaica, but Town duo Josh Keeley and George Saville saw their hopes of reaching the tournament later this year end in heartbreak last night.

Palmer, on loan at Kenilworth Road from Championship outfit Hull City, was named on the bench for the Reggae Boyz trip to New Caledonia in their intercontinental play-off semi-final at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico on Thursday evening. Jamaica, who finished second in their group stages, behind Curaçao, and looking to qualify for their first World Cup Finals in 28 years, were under new management, with interim head coach Rudolph Speid having replaced former England boss Steve McClaren, handing debuts to Ephron Mason-Clark and Andre Brooks.

Left back Ronaldo Webster was dangerous early on, before the Reggae Boyz went ahead on 18 minutes through Bailey Cadamarteri, the Wrexham forward tapping home after Webster’s powerful low strike from 20 yards was parried by goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine. New Caledonia tried to respond with two efforts from the halfway line, but they went wide, while after the break, Webster went close to a second.

Ex-Hatter Amari’i Bell came on in the closing stages, before Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake denied Gerard Waia to seal the 1-0 victory, as the Reggae Boyz will now meet DR Congo at the Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, with the winner guaranteed a place at this summer’s showpiece, joining Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K.

For Luton goalkeeper Keeley, his hopes of being involved in the tournament with the Republic of Ireland were dashed after a cruel play-off semi-final penalty shootout loss to the Czech Republic. The 22-year-old was on the bench in Prague as Ireland gave themselves a massive chance to go through when leading 2-0 midway through the first half thanks to Troy Parrott’s strike and an own goal from Matej Kovar.

However, they were pegged back on 27 minutes by Patrik Schick’s spotkick, before conceding once more to Ladislav Krejci’s header with just four minutes left. Heimir Hallgrimsson's team looked to be on course to triumphing in the shootout as well when Caoimhin Kelleher saved from Mojmir Chytil, only for Finn Azaz and Alan Browne to see their efforts repelled, Jan Kliment firing in the decisive kick.

It was the same for Luton midfielder George Saville, whose aims at qualifying with Northern Ireland are over following a 2-0 play-off semi-final defeat to Italy. The visitors were comfortable at half time with the scores goalless, but then Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean both found the net in the second period as Michael O’Neill’s side’s lengthy wait to qualify continues.

Town youngster Dylan Stitt was an unused substitute as Northern Ireland U19s lost 1-0 to Ukraine in a Euro U19 Championships Elite Round qualifier on Wednesday. The contest, staged in Romania, saw Ireland go close in the first half through Paul McGovern, but Ukraine came on strong, Dmytro Bohdanov, Nikita Kaliuzhnyi, Danylo Malov and Bohdan Popov going close.

Just two minutes after the restart, midfielder Oleksandr Soroka found the back of the net with what proved to be the only goal of the game, as they looked the more likely to add a second, Oleksandr Kamenskyi, Bohdanov, Popov and Malov all having opportunities. Ceadach O’Neill and McGovern then put chances wide in the closing stages as Stitt will look to be involved when Northern Ireland face Romania at the Clinceni Arena in Clinceni on Sunday.