Jamaica blanks Suriname in Gold Cup opener

Jamaica celebrates scoring against Suriname on Monday.
CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Jamaica rode a pair of first-half goals to a 2-0 victory over Suriname in the opening game of Group C at the Gold Cup in Orlando.

Shamar Nicholson, who plays professionally in Belgium, opened the scoring in the sixth minute with his third career goal in Gold Cup play -- and first international score since 2019. Teammate Bobby Reid, a forward for Fulham in the English Football League, added a tally 20 minutes later for the final margin.

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Despite being blanked, Suriname actually outshot the victors 10-7, but only three were on goal and all stopped by Jamaica's Andre Blake -- a goalkeeper for the Philadelphia Union in the MLS.

Both teams will be off until their next matches on Friday, also in Orlando, as Jamaica plays Guadeloupe and Suriname takes on Costa Rica.