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Cory Burke struck again on Saturday night, putting away his sixth international goal in a 2-1 win for Jamaica over Suriname in the CONCACAF Nations League qualifying.
The Philadelphia Union striker opened the scoring in the 7th minute when he headed home a Kemar Lawrence cross for his fourth international goal in his last three outings.
7’ Gol @jff_football! @kemarkemar24's cross sets up a Cory Burke header, giving the home side the lead!#CNL #TheDreamStartsNow pic.twitter.com/VkGLy4is1e
— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) November 18, 2018
D.C. United forward Darren Mattocks doubled the lead with a penalty kick after being taken down in the box eight minutes later.
Suriname pulled a goal back in the 37th minute but that was as close as they would get as the Reggae Boyz improved to 3-0-0 in qualifying with one match left in March to secure League A in the Nations League and a berth in the 2019 Gold Cup.
Burke earned his 17th international cap in the match in the starting XI and played 68 minutes while his Philadelphia Union teammate Andre Blake wore the captain’s armband for his 35th international cap.
Burke now has 20 goals in the calendar year in 42 games in all competitions, including 10 in the MLS regular season, 1 in the playoffs, 3 in the U.S. Open Cup, 2 on loan with Bethlehem Steel and 4 for the Reggae Boyz.
Jamaica closes out Nations League qualifying when they visit El Salvador in March 2019.
A top six finish in qualifying will earn them a spot in League A of the Nations League when group play kicks off next September and a spot in the 2019 Gold Cup. The United States, Mexico and the other participants in the qualifying hex for the 2018 World Cup were automatically seeded in League A for the inaugural Nations League.