KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Rene Simoes has been fired as coach of Jamaica's soccer team following a slow start in the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying.

Jamaica drew with Canada 1-1, lost to Mexico and dropped a 2-0 decision at Honduras on Wednesday, although the Reggae Boyz play their final three games at home.

Simoes was nine months into a three-year contract.

The Jamaica Football Federation said it had "severed ties with Simoes and his Brazilian staff."

He led Jamaica to its first World Cup appearance in 1998, then resigned in 2000 after six years as technical director.

He returned in January to succeed Bora Milutinovic, who was fired for breach of contract.

Mexico (3-0) lead Group Two with nine points, followed by Honduras (2-1) with six, and Canada and Jamaica (both 0-2-1) with one apiece.

The top two nations advance to next year's finals of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Jamaica's last three games are against Mexico on October 11, Honduras on October 15 and Canada on October 19.

They now need to win all three to have any chance of advancing.