Jamaica's midfielder John-Ross Doyley, being challenged by a Mexican opponent in a friendly international, is expected to make a key contribution in Jamaica's bid for World Cup qualification against Honduras today. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

It will be do-or-die for Jamaica's Junior Reggae Boyz today when they face Honduras in their final Group B game in CONCACAF Under-20 World Cup qualification, at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago, starting at 5 p.m.(4 p.m. Jamaica time).

The United States will face El Salvador in the opening game of a double-header, starting at 4 p.m.

The Jamaicans, who are second in the group on three points following their 2-1 victory over El Salvador on Sunday, are guaranteed to advance to the World Cup finals in Egypt later this year, with a victory over the Hondurans.

Eight teams are contesting the final round play-offs, from which the top four - two from each group - will qualify for the World Cup.

Performance

The United States lead the group with four points, followed by Jamaica, Honduras (two) and El Salvador (one).

The young Reggae Boyz will head into today's crucial encounter without key players in central defender and captain Andre Darby and striker Dever Orgill, who were both red carded in the first half of Sunday's win over El Salvador.

Donovan Duckie, coach of the young Reggae Boyz, said he doesn't believe that their absence will affect his team's performance.

"I have no doubt that we can do well in the absence of these players and so I don't think it will affect the team in any way," Duckie told The Gleaner in an interview yesterday.

"We have a squad of 20 players with good quality and this is a good chance for them to step up and show their capabilities."

Among the players expected to lead that charge are midfielders Davion Thorpe and Evan Taylor who played in senior World Cup qualifying earlier this year, as well as John-Ross Doyley, and Alanzo Adlam, a high scorer for the Jamaica team in this qualifying series.

Romario Campbell also scored for Jamaica on Sunday when they fought courageously with nine players to defeat El Salvador 2-1, in a hot-tempered encounter. El Salvador also had a player sent off and finished the contest with 10.

Tough challenge

Duckie added that he is expecting a tough challenge from the Hondurans, who must win to qualify.

After playing to a 2-2 tie with El Salvador in their opening contest, the Hondurans held the United States to a 0-0 draw in their second game on Sunday.

"It is going to be a very difficult game for us because Honduras need to win the match to qualify and I know that they will be coming all-out to secure a win," he said.

He noted that the young Reggae Boyz must remain calm and focus on the task that lies ahead of them.

"It is important that if we don't win the game we avoid a defeat," he said " I think team that makes the least mistakes will win the match."

Duckie added: "I think that we have to make sure that we minimise our mistakes and maximise our performance on the field."

The FIFA Under-20 World Cup Finals will played in Egypt from September 24 to October 16 this year.

Adlam