Mattocks eager for Costa Rica clash

National men's senior football striker, Darren Mattocks is anxiously awaiting the Reggae Boyz crucial encounter against Costa Rica in the CONCACAF World Cup qualification on Good Friday, March 25 at the National Stadium.

Jamaica is in group B of the semi-final stage alongside Costa Rica, Panama and Haiti. Costa Rica leads the standings on six points, followed by Jamaica and Panama on three points apiece, and Haiti without a point.

All teams have played two games.

With that scenario, Jamaica's upcoming clash against Costa Rica is crucial for both teams' chances of advancing to the final stage.

'EVERYGAMEISMYLAST'

"For me, every game is my last game," Mattocks told STAR Sports, while watching the Red Stripe Premier League clash that featured his former club Waterhouse against Montego Bay United last Wednesday at Drewsland.

"The first game against Panama wasn't our best but the second against Haiti, we did a pretty good job to get a result. Now, we're pretty much in the mix to go through to the next round," Mattocks, who plays professionally for Vancouver Whitecaps in the Major League Soccer, said.

Mattocks is confident ahead of the clash.

"The next game against Costa Rica, I'm really looking forward to as I have some friends on the Costa Rica team," he said.

Following the completion of the CONCACAF semi-final stage later this year, the winners and runners-up in the three groups will advance to the final stage where the top three teams will advance to the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The fourth-placed team from CONCACAF will play against the fifth placed team from the Asian Football Confederation in a two way play-off scheduled for November 2017.

The winner on aggregate will make it to the World Cup.