Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor

FANS HURLED anything they could in the air. They screamed as loudly as they could. And the real heroes, the Reggae Boyz, ran and embraced each other in wild celebration on the pitch.

It was pandemonium as Costa Rican referee Walter Enrique Quesada Cordero blew the final whistle to signal Jamaica's 1-0 win over Mexico, to revive the hosts' hopes in CONCACAF Group Two World Cup qualification at the National Stadium last night.

The win was the first for Jamaica in the four-nation semi-final series, lifting the Reggae Boyz out of the cellar to four points. Mexico, despite the loss, stayed top of the standings with nine points, while the other contestants in the group, second-place Honduras and Canada played later in the evening.

Honduras had six points and will play Jamaica in the return game on Wednesday at 'The Office'. Hungry for a win to revive their chances, the Reggae Boyz attacked the ball from the opening whistle, putting pressure on the Mexicans every time they had the ball by limiting their touches and time.

Purposeful

At the offensive end, they were very purposeful with the skilful Jamal Campbell-Ryce registering the fact that he had come to play. In very constructive fashion, Campbell-Ryce set to work on the right flank, waltzing pass his opponents at will with telling dribbles. Mexico hit the first real shot when Fernando Arce drove wide of the post from outside the box in the fourth minute.

Two minutes later, Jamaica showed that unlike the first-leg encounter when they hardly mounted a challenge, they were going to be making a huge fight of it when captain Ricardo Gardner forced Mexico's goalie, Oswaldo Sanchez, into a diving save by punching his free kick away from goal.

Amid a fair bit of Mexican possession, Jamaica maintained the attacking tempo and got the all-important goal from striker Ricardo Fuller, who has been displaying good form in the English Premier League with almost a goal a game for Stoke City.

Jamaica took the lead in the 16th minute when Luton Shelton played a pass to his strike partner, Fuller, who drifted inside and hit a left-footed shot that took a deflection off Rafael Marquez and looped high enough to beat the diving attempt of goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez and lodge into the goal.

Wild celebrations

It sparked wild celebrations in 'The Office' as a sea of yellow erupted in a deafening uproar to signal the lead for which the Jamaicans had so desperately craved. Clearly not wanting to take chances, Jamaica showed less commitment and backed off. High quality Mexico, who were always going to have their moments of possession, went to work as the game developed into a serious battle to the half.

Mexico came closest to scoring with a neat build-up straight through the heart of the Jamaica defence, which ended with Carlos Vela's shot being deflected over the top by Ian Goodison.

Meanwhile, Gardner took some dangerous free kicks and there was also a sustained pressure sequence of three consecutive corners, but Sanchez was equal to the task and the scoreline remained unchanged to half-time.

The second half was frenetic and full of action with Mexico coach Sven Goran Eriksson utilising all his substitutes by the 15th minute.

But the Reggae Boyz held firm with Campbell-Ryce leading the attacks from out wide, at one stage embarrassingly dismissing and deceiving Salcido into a sliding challenge against nothing but air, as he sprawled on to the running track.