Jamaica crushed the defending champions the United States by scoring 2-1 during the CONCACAF Gold Cup (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) on Wednesday night. After this enthralling win, Jamaica is touted as the first Caribbean squad to reach Gold Cup final.
The elated players are yet to sink in the reality of winning Gold Cup semi-final since Guadeloupe in 2007. Now, Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz will be seen competing with the six-time champion Mexico for the coveted Gold Cup on Sunday in Philadelphia.
The encounter between Jamaica and U.S. was quite challenging Jamaica’s Darren Mattocks scored the first goal in the 31st minute and Giles Barnes scored at the 36th minute. However, the US captain Michael Bradley managed to make only one goal at the 48th minute.
The gleeful Giles Barnes told a leading agency, ”My phone hasn’t stopped, as you can imagine. Back in Jamaica, there’s got to be a party going on. Everybody knows how we are.” It is a moment to rejoice for the island whose team was ranked 76th in the world. The US rank is 34th.
“We made history by getting into the final. It shows what this team is capable of,” Barnes added. While Jamaican coach Winfried Schaefer said, “We cannot have a party now. We still have one more match.”
Saddened by the defeat, US coach Jurgen Klinsmann told a leading daily, “The team is disappointed. I cannot complain about the performance of the team. They kept pushing, pushing, pushing. We had enough chances. We had enough chances to put three, four, five in there and we didn’t do it and that’s why we lost.” He further added,
“Congratulations to Jamaica on making to the final and we have to swallow that pill.”
Now that the US has lost its chance to be in the finals, it will be competing for the third spot with Panama.
Squad
USA
GOALKEEPERS: Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)m Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)
DEFENDERS: Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Ventura Alvarado (Club America), DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers)
MIDFIELDERS: Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Veracruz)
FORWARDS: Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Alan Gordon (LA Galaxy)
Jamaica
GOALKEEPERS: Dwayne Miller (Syrianska), Ryan Thompson (Pittsburgh Riverhounds) Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)
DEFENDERS: Adrian Mariappa (Crystal Palace), Wes Morgan (Leicester City), Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers), Michael Hector (Reading), Lance Laing (FC Edmonton), Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls),
MIDFIELDERS: Christopher Humphrey (Preston North End), Jobi McAnuff (Leyton Orient), Garath McCleary (Reading), Je-Vaughn Watson (FC Dallas), Rodolph Austin (Unattached), Simon Dawkins (Derby County), Joel Grant (Yeovil Town)
FORWARDS: Allan Ottey (Montego Bay United), Michael Seaton (Orebro), Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo), Andre Clennon (Arnett Gardens), Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps),