Jamaica stun USA 2-1 in Gold Cup semi-final

There could only be one winner as Jamaica and the United States went head to head in the semi-final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. So, at the final whistle, the winner was Jamaica; against all the odds and expectations. The goals came courtesy of two MLS stars, but how did the action unfold?

The US had won all three of their Gold Cup encounters with Jamaica and were looking to extend that run to four. The Reggae Boyz were looking to put an end to that poor record in the competition, and fielded a strong side. Giles Barnes of the Houston Dynamo was going to be their main goal threat, while for the US it was Johannsson playing as the furthest striker forward.

More from CONCACAF

• USA, Honduras, Panama, and Canada Close in on a Spot in the 2024 Copa America
• Soccer in North America: A Battlefield Against Racism and Xenophobia
• The Inter-American Cup returns in grand style, promising thrilling clashes among the best in the Americas
• USMNT defender Auston Trusty moves to Sheffield United
• 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Where’s the squawking about the ball?

Clint Dempsey made his debut in 2004 against Jamaica, and he now faced them again on his 118th game for the USMNT. He was up against a very physical Jamaican side, who also showed good pace going on the counter-attack.

The US attacked from the off much like in the quarter-final against Cuba, winning a corner within the first minute although nothing could be made of it. Much of the US attacking play in the opening minutes came down the left-side, although Jamaica really made an effort to close down space making stringing passes together more difficult than people like Bradley and Beckerman would have liked. Dempsey was also struggling to assert himself, as Jamaica ensured they closed space down fast.

Johannsson went close midway through the first-half as the US attempted to ramp up the pressure. Bradley made a storming run but Zardes hit the following shot over the crossbar. Giles Barnes did the same for Jamaica, putting it well over despite being in a really good shooting position.

The Jamaican goalkeeper was left with his heart in his mouth, after opting to try and dribble it in his own box while Johannsson came steaming in and almost stole it off him to put it in the net, but could not and the goalkeeper counted himself very lucky. Not a good one for the highlight reel. He did make a save to deny Fabian Johnson who hit a high shot on his right foot, but was palmed away safely for a corner.

Darren Mattocks stunned the home crowd by heading in from a Jamaican corner that followed shortly after they broke on the counter attack. The Jamaican number eleven rose up high to meet the ball and it cannoned off the right hand post and went just behind the line with Guzan nowhere near it. The defending champions were 1-0 down. Most of the blame must go to Brooks and Alvarado, who failed to correctly pickup and keep track of Mattocks and their liability led to the goal.

Giles Barnes did his job and netted in the 35′ minute, curling in a sublime free-kick over the US wall and fizzed into the net, a diving Guzan again nowhere near stopping it. The atmosphere in the Georgia Dome suddenly went very quiet; but for Jamaica they continued to turn up the heat. Having gone 2-0 up they wanted more just to be safe and kept pressing. The US were still reeling from the first goal and when the realization hit that they were 2-0 down, the players did little to try and change things.

The two Jamaica goals quickly had people pining for Tim Howard’s return. But even he could not save them at this point; Brad Guzan had to finish the job. And the ten other US guys on the field of course. Kyle Beckerman was among the suspect players; all too often charging in recklessly. He duly received a yellow for his efforts.

So at half-time, the readings were not good. The defending champions, and tournament favorites were being outpaced, outplayed and outscored. Surely Klinsmann would look to the bench for answers? He didn’t, at least not right away.

However, Bradley did make a difference and helped Klinsmann get the perfect response by scoring immediately. The goal swung the momentum in favor of the USA but they could do little with it. The goal was scrappy, spilled by the goalkeeper as both Johannsson and Dempsey tried and failed to score but Bradley was there to poach.

Despite the heavy US pressure, Jamaica held firm. They had every man behind the ball as the US kept coming forward. Bradley hit the post via the goalkeeper in the 56′ minute, and Dempsey went close from a corner. But it was never close enough; and Jamaica were able to clear every time. Bradley was trying in vain to make things happen, and occasionally Gyasi Zardes was getting into good positions but most of the team were pretty poor.

Brooks also tried his luck, heading in very close in the 70′ minute as things began to look more desperate for the defending champions. Jamaica could even afford to take both goal-scorers off. At one point in the latter stages, big center-back Wes Morgan was getting forward when Jamaica broke. On the other hand the US saw Demspey starved of service and a passenger for much of the game.

Even the introduction of Yedlin couldn’t change the game, the young Spurs defender only picking up a yellow for some erratic challenges. Just like Beckerman in the first-half. Yet Jamaica tried as much as possible to play it safe although even they gave away more set-pieces than they would have liked, the Reggae Boyz were lucy the US didn’t do anything with those chances.

So, for the first time in six Gold Cups, there will be no United States in the final. In addition, Jamaica become the first Caribbean nation to ever make the final. This makes their biggest international achievement since qualifying for the World Cup back in 1998.

To put it simply, Jamaica worked for this result and fully deserved it. They were quick, good in possession and when two great chances presented themselves, they took them. Their goalkeeper was not even first choice yet did enough to hold out enough US chances to come way with a win. The USMNT now have quite a few questions to answer in a Gold Cup that has hardly been a classic for the team even with a 6-0 wn against Cuba in the quarters. What will the future hold? (Looking at you, Tim Howard)