Jamaica stun USA to reach Gold Cup final

AFP, ATLANTA: Jamaica’s ‘Reggae Boyz’ delivered defending champion United States a humbling 2-1 defeat Wednesday, becoming the first Caribbean squad to reach the Gold Cup final by shocking the heavily favored hosts.
On Sunday in Philadelphia, Jamaica will play for the crown against six-time champion Mexico, which edged Panama 2-1 in the other semi-final of the biennial North American regional football championship.
Andres Guardado scored twice on penalty kicks to give Mexico a 2-1 extra-time triumph over 10-man Panama and a berth against Jamaica in the Gold Cup final.
The Mexican captain had to wait through a melee at the end of regulation time before netting the equalizer, then scored again from the spot in stoppage time of the first of two extra 15-minute periods to finally subdue a Panama side than was a man down after only 25 minutes but still managed to nearly win.
Panama striker Luis Tejada was issued a red card by US referee Mark Geiger for a rough foul, but Panama took the lead on a header by captain Roman Torres in the 57th minute and was on the verge of an emotional victory.
But in the 89th minute, Torres was whistled for a hand ball violation in the penalty area, falling onto the ball after contact with a Mexico forward.
After Jamaican defenders disrupted US attacks for the first half hour, Darren Mattocks nodded home the first goal in the 31st minute and Giles Barnes scored on a free kick in the 36th — set up by a controversial violation on US goalkeeper Brad Guzan — to put Jamaica ahead 2-0 and signal an epic upset was in the making at the sold-out Georgia Dome.
US captain Michael Bradley answered in the 48th minute but the Americans never managed an equalizer against the stubborn Caribbean backline and lost to a Jamaican side that was 1-13 with eight drawn in their prior matches.
“We made history by getting into the final. It shows what this team is capable of,” Barnes said.
“We’ve shocked a few people along the way but we’ve not shocked ourselves. We don’t fear anybody. We put out a great team.”
“We cannot have a party now. We still have one more match,” Jamaican coach Winfried Schaefer said. “Bob Marley comes after the match.”
In Jamaica, the late reggae legend’s music might be playing all day and night until the match.
“Just incredible. The feeling right now is just insane,” Barnes said. “The phone hasn’t stopped. Back in Jamaica there’s got to be a party on. It will be even bigger when we lift the Cup on Sunday.”
The five-time champion Americans had won their past five Gold Cup semi-finals but were undone by a Jamaican side that matched its best runs in 1993 and 1998 just to make the last four. It was the first Caribbean semi-finalist since Guadeloupe in 2007.
“The team is disappointed,” US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “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.
“Congratulations to Jamaica on making the final and we have to swallow that pill.”
A long throw from the left side found Mattocks, who outleaped two defenders and headed the ball in off the far post, and the second goal came off a free kick set up when Guzan was whistled for a throw with his foot outside the area.
“In all of my years of being professional, I don’t think I’ve seen that call,” Guzan said. “Especially since seeing a still image of it — maybe (it was) an inch or two.”
Bradley called it “a head scratcher,” adding, “You don’t see it very often. It’s not a call that I would be making if I were a referee.”
Barnes curved a free kick from just outside the penalty area over the wall and into the upper right corner of the goal.
The US scored when Aron Johannsson blasted a shot that Jamaican goalkeeper Ryan Thompson stopped but couldn’t keep in his grasp. Clint Dempsey followed and spilled over prone Thompson as the ball came loose and an onrushing Bradley buried it into the back of the net.
From there it was a case of missed opportunities.
Johannsson fired a free kick in the 51st minute that Thompson could not fully grip but Johannsson headed the rebound over the crossbar. In the 57th, Bradley fired a hard outside shot that bounced off Thompson’s chest, deflected off the goalpost to his right and out of danger.
“The luck was not with us but maybe we were not clinical enough as well,” Klinsmann said. “We saw a lot of good stuff but it’s the goals that matter.”

Jamaica stun USA to reach Gold Cup final

AFP, ATLANTA: Jamaicas Reggae Boyz delivered defending champion United States a humbling 2-1 defeat Wednesday, becoming the first Caribbean squad to reach the Gold Cup final by shocking the heavily favored hosts. On Sunday in Philadelphia, Jamaica will play for the crown against six-time champion Mexico, which edged Panama 2-1 in the other semi-final of the biennial North American regional football championship. Andres Guardado scored twice on penalty kicks to give Mexico a 2-1 extra-time triumph over 10-man Panama and a berth against Jamaica in the Gold Cup final. The Mexican captain had to wait through a melee at the end of regulation time before netting the equalizer, then scored again from the spot in stoppage time of the first of two extra 15-minute periods to finally subdue a Panama side than was a man down after only 25 minutes but still managed to nearly win. Panama striker Luis Tejada was issued a red card by US referee Mark Geiger for a rough foul, but Panama took the lead on a header by captain Roman Torres in the 57th minute and was on the verge of an emotional victory. But in the 89th minute, Torres was whistled for a hand ball violation in the penalty area, falling onto the ball after contact with a Mexico forward. After Jamaican defenders disrupted US attacks for the first half hour, Darren Mattocks nodded home the first goal in the 31st minute and Giles Barnes scored on a free kick in the 36th set up by a controversial violation on US goalkeeper Brad Guzan to put Jamaica ahead 2-0 and signal an epic upset was in the making at the sold-out Georgia Dome. US captain Michael Bradley answered in the 48th minute but the Americans never managed an equalizer against the stubborn Caribbean backline and lost to a Jamaican side that was 1-13 with eight drawn in their prior matches. We made history by getting into the final. It shows what this team is capable of, Barnes said. Weve shocked a few people along the way but weve not shocked ourselves. We dont fear anybody. We put out a great team. We cannot have a party now. We still have one more match, Jamaican coach Winfried Schaefer said. Bob Marley comes after the match. In Jamaica, the late reggae legends music might be playing all day and night until the match. Just incredible. The feeling right now is just insane, Barnes said. The phone hasnt stopped. Back in Jamaica theres got to be a party on. It will be even bigger when we lift the Cup on Sunday. The five-time champion Americans had won their past five Gold Cup semi-finals but were undone by a Jamaican side that matched its best runs in 1993 and 1998 just to make the last four. It was the first Caribbean semi-finalist since Guadeloupe in 2007. The team is disappointed, US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. 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 didnt do it and thats why we lost. Congratulations to Jamaica on making the final and we have to swallow that pill. A long throw from the left side found Mattocks, who outleaped two defenders and headed the ball in off the far post, and the second goal came off a free kick set up when Guzan was whistled for a throw with his foot outside the area. In all of my years of being professional, I dont think Ive seen that call, Guzan said. Especially since seeing a still image of it maybe (it was) an inch or two. Bradley called it a head scratcher, adding, You dont see it very often. Its not a call that I would be making if I were a referee. Barnes curved a free kick from just outside the penalty area over the wall and into the upper right corner of the goal. The US scored when Aron Johannsson blasted a shot that Jamaican goalkeeper Ryan Thompson stopped but couldnt keep in his grasp. Clint Dempsey followed and spilled over prone Thompson as the ball came loose and an onrushing Bradley buried it into the back of the net. From there it was a case of missed opportunities. Johannsson fired a free kick in the 51st minute that Thompson could not fully grip but Johannsson headed the rebound over the crossbar. In the 57th, Bradley fired a hard outside shot that bounced off Thompsons chest, deflected off the goalpost to his right and out of danger. The luck was not with us but maybe we were not clinical enough as well, Klinsmann said. We saw a lot of good stuff but its the goals that matter.