Panama vs Jamaica Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

This is a massive game for both teams with the two most likely battling it out for the 2nd qualifying spot in this group. Costa Rica only need a point against Haiti in the other match to qualify and should get it. Although a win for Panama in this match would clear everything up with a game to spare. It would ensure Central American neighbours Costa Rica and Panama go through and Jamaica would be out. However, if the Reggae Boyz can pull off what would be a shock win, they’d be in a strong position to qualify with their final game at home to bottom team Haiti.

Panama have suffered a series of agonising narrow misses in the final stage of World Cup qualifying but they usually get there and, with a 3 point advantage on Jamaica, they will be confident of doing so again. They won 2-0 in Jamaica earlier in the group but they’ve not been in stunning form of late. They’ve only won 2 of their last 9 matches but the only sides they’ve lost to over the past 5 months have been Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

Clearly Jamaica won’t pull that kind of a punch and they haven’t played since Copa America in the summer when they lost all 3 games without scoring. They are a bit out of depth against South American opposition in truth but their impressive run to the 2015 Gold Cup final showed they can mix it with the stronger sides in this part of the world, so this is likely to be a close game.

Panama drew every match they played in that competition and are a side that seems to draw a lot in general. A draw here would be a good result for them as they’d hold their 3 point advantage and much superior goal difference on the Jamaicans going into the final round of games, so they won’t chase the game wildly, even if they fail to find a breakthrough.

Given that backing this to end in a draw at 9/4 looks to offer some value here.