Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor

Jamaica's Luton Shelton (left) rounds Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladares on his way to scoring in the World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium last night. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

TWO DOWN. One to go. Jamaica continued its fairy tale-like climb back into CONCACAF Group Two World Cup qualifying contention, grinding out a 1-0 win over Honduras at the National Stadium last night.

Luton Shelton scored the only goal, in the 16th minute, to keep Jamaica third but in with more than a fighting chance going into next month's final semi-final round game against Canada on November 19 at 'The Office' again.

Bottom of the four-nation group two matches ago on one point, back-to-back victories over Central American duo Mexico and Honduras over the last five days have catapulted the team to a close-up third on seven points, two less than Honduras.

Aggressive start

Mexico drew 2-2 in Canada last night to advance to 10 points and secure a berth in the final round of qualifying.

Only one more team will qualify and while the Reggae Boyz fancy their chances of beating Canada in their last game to advance to 10 points, they must now hope Mexico defeat Honduras in their final-round encounter.

Needing to win to maintain their hopes of qualifying alive, Jamaica started aggressively and attacked Honduras with and without the ball.

The Hondurans, however, were unfazed and, with a fair amount of composure, they were able to free themselves from tight situations with some neat passes in advances towards Jamaica's goal.

They actually created the first real opportunity when a series of passes left Wilson Palacios isolated with Claude Davis. He dribbled past him into the box, then crossed low at the near post where Milton Nunez's weak first-time side-footed finish gently lobbed straight into the arms of goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.

Several crosses

Honduras continued to have the better of the early attacking and challenged the Jamaican defence with several crosses.

In the meantime, the Reggae Boyz worked at getting their offensive game together. Gradually, it grew from high percentage passing at the back and as the homesters begun getting a good feel of the ball, their coordination improved.

In the first real attack of note, Jamaica scored. As happened against Mexico, the 16th minute proved golden as Shelton, in the centre of the pitch near the penalty box, took a pass off his captain Ricardo Gardner, turned beautifully, then went past the sweeper, as well as goalkeeper Noel Valladares, before turning a grounder to the far side of the goal.

It was well placed in the context of a retreating Honduran defender, who slid at the near post in anticipation that the shot would have been directed there. Instead, it went behind him as it trickled inside the far post and goal.

Maddening celebration

The celebration was maddening both on the pitch as well as on the sidelines as the Boyz, led by Shelton, hurdled over the sideboards up to the fence, opening their hands to the jubilant spectators in the bleachers, who helped in putting up a 25,000-plus gathering inside 'The Office', like Sunday when they started engineering their World Cup comeback.

Content on maintaining their lead later in the game, Jamaica played from behind the ball while Shelton and Ricardo Fuller remained posted on the frontline.

This significantly affected the Reggae Boyz's attacking capabilities but still, even with far less possession, they created the only dangerous scoring moments and the 'Rice Man' Jamal Campbell-Ryce, was once again devastating with some downright embarrassing dribbles as he helped the team to advance with enterprise and danger on the right.

The Reggae Boyz have now won a maximum six points in two matches since Theodore Whitmore replaced Brazilian Rene Simoes as head coach of the team.

Whitmore included 10 of the country's best players in his squad, who had been ignored by Simoes.