Jamaica vs Curacao Prediction: Visitors to make history

Jamaica host Curacao in Kingston for their pivotal CONCACAF World Cup qualifier on Wednesday (01:00 GMT, YouTube). The visitors will qualify for the tournament finals for the first time in their history if they avoid defeat here.

One point separates the two teams heading into this crunch clash. Below you will find my Jamaica vs Curacao predictions, accompanied by the latest team news and match odds.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Team News

Jamaica defender Damion Lowe was withdrawn just after the half-hour mark because of  aninjury against Trinidad & Tobago, so he is looking doubtful to feature on Wednesday.

Steve McClaren sent on Richard King to replace him, and he will probably get the nod to start against Curacao.

Other than that, McClaren will likely stick with most of the team that drew with Trinidad & Tobago last time out.

Football Odds

Eloy Room is likely to keep his place in goal on Wednesday for the visitors.

He is expected to be shielded by the quartet of Shurandy Sambo, Roshon Van Eijma, Armando Obispo and Sherel Floranus.

In attack, Sontje Hansen, Gervane Kastaneer and Kenji Gorre should line up as the front three to help get Curacao over the line.

Jamaica vs Curacao Odds

Both teams have won three of their five qualifiers in Group B.  Jamaica are 19/20 and Curacao are 11/4 to win this match.

They have experienced three draws between them, with Curacao playing out two of them. The stalemate is valued at 21/10, which has an implied probability of 32.3%.

Match Result - Draw @ 21/10

Curacao know that they only need to avoid defeat in Kingston to reach the World Cup finals for the first time in their history, and given that they are unbeaten in qualifying I am confident that they can come away with the result they need.

It is going to be tough, as the Reggae Boyz simply have to win to progress to the World Cup finals and as the home side, they are expected to come out all guns blazing in this gargantuan fixture.

Today's Football Fixtures

However, the Curacao players have stood firm throughout this campaign and now that they have one more game to get through, I can't see them letting all their hard work go to waste. They are carrying the population of 156,000 on their shoulders on Wednesday and I do believe history beckons for them.

Jamaica will threaten, but I am backing the visitors to come away with the point they need.

Both Teams To Score - Yes @ 10/11

With this contest holding such high stakes, I think it could end up being quite end-to-end. Jamaica have to win and Curacao must avoid defeat. As they say, the best form of defence is to attack.

I thinking backing Both Teams To Score - Yes could be a shrewd selection here on the basis that this is a highly competitive fixture.

In the reverse fixture, Curacao ran out 2-0 winners, but since then, the Reggae Boyz have netted five goals across their last two fixtures against Bermuda and Trinidad & Tobago - with BTTS - Yes landing in the clash with the latter.

For Curacao, there have been goals at both ends in two of their past four qualifiers.