Jamaica Shocks US in CONCACAF Semi-Final
23 Jul, 2015
Americans are dealing with one of their most shocking losses.
Giving up two first-half goals on set plays, one delivered by goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s blunder on a routine throw, the U.S. fell to Jamaica 2-1 in the Gold Cup semifinals Wednesday night.
Forget another CONCACAF title.
That will go to either Mexico or Jamaica, who meet in Sunday’s final at Philadelphia.
As for the Americans, it’s time to figure out what went wrong after the first home loss to a Caribbean nation since a 1969 defeat to Haiti. They also face a playoff with this year’s Gold Cup winner for the North and Central American and Caribbean berth in the 2017 Confederations Cup.
“We have no choice but to move ourselves forward,” captain Michael Bradley said. “It’s disappointing right now. That’s normal.”
Before more than 70,000 in the sold-out Georgia Dome, the Americans were tripped up by an island nation of some 2.9 million – roughly half the population of metro Atlanta.
“The feeling right now is insane,” said Giles Barnes, after scoring one of Jamaica’s goals off a free kick.
Barnes’ goal from 18 yards, a hooking blast that sailed over the American wall in the 36th minute, wouldn’t have been possible if not for Guzan extending his right arm – and the ball – across the penalty line while making a throw.
The Jamaicans charged onto the field with pure joy at the end of their victory, while a small contingent of fans, clad in green and gold, saluted the Reggae Boyz. Ranked 76th in the world, they became the first Caribbean nation to reach a Gold Cup final.
Jamaican goalkeeper Ryan Thompson, who plays for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the third-tier United Soccer League, turned aside every shot but Bradley’s goal in the 48th. Even then, Thompson stopped a couple of attempts before Bradley swooped in on the loose ball to finish.
The defending champion U.S., which had played in five straight Gold Cup finals, was eliminated for the first time by a CONCACAF team en route to the title game. In the era when teams outside the region were invited, the Americans lost semifinals to Brazil in 1996 and 2003, and a quarterfinal to Colombia in 2000.
“We had enough chances to put this game away,” said U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann, insisting there was no reason to panic. “The luck was not with us.”
Panama will take on the U.S. in the third-place game Saturday.
AP
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