All articles by: Jools Jordan-Probert

CONCACAF Gold Cup Final – USA vs Jamaica – Match Preview

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USA vs Jamaica – Match Preview – International tournaments are a rare occurrence. They are the pinnacle of a professional footballer’s career, an opportunity for a player to showcase their abilities on the grandest audiences. Normally to legions of patriotic fans who look on either from the crowd or from a distance, watching their heroes attempt to cement their place in history.

USMNT and surprise package Jamaica will both compete at Levis Stadium, Santa Clara on Thursday morning in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final to do just that.

The Yanks may not hold this competition in the highest regard compared to the World Cup for instance, hence the initial squad excluding a lot of big names like Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey and including younger, more inexperienced players, but make no mistake Bruce Arena’s team definitely want to win this tournament.

The stars switched back into the side at the quarter-final stage, and Clint Dempsey did what he does best to seal Sunday’s 2-0 semi-final victory over Costa Rica with a goal that ties him as the country’s all-time leading goal-scorer with Landon Donovan on 57 strikes.

A quarter-final triumph over El Salvador by the same score-line demonstrates that in a tournament where there has been no single outstanding team, the United States are garnering momentum at the just the right time and are demonstrating championship credentials.

Mexico suffered the ignominy of defeat against Jamaica in the semi-finals, and the United States will do everything in their power to avoid facing the same fate.
The Stars and Stripes are the second most successful side in Gold Cup history with 5 victories, two behind bitter rivals Mexico, and this presents a fantastic opportunity to narrow the gap to a singular title. Not to mention the reward for victory is a guaranteed place in the CONCACAF play-off for the 2021 Confederations Cup.

Kemar Lawrence scored a last minute stunner for Jamaica to progress to the Final Photo Credit:concacaf.com

Jamaica will be inherently aware of that opportunity, by beating Curacao, Canada and Mexico on the way, they have the chance to elevate their underdog story to the highest reaches of the game by beating a CONCACAF superpower like the United States in an international tournament final.
Creating a chance to play against the World’s best at the Confederations Cup is something manager Theodore Whitmore will be desperate to achieve.

This is the second successive final for the Reggae Boyz which is an outstanding achievement, this two-year period has undoubtedly been the greatest in Jamaican history.
Exacting revenge against 2015 winners Mexico in Monday’s semi-final with a resilient 1-0 win illustrates how far they have come. To do so with a wonderful moment of individual brilliance like the free-kick Kemar Lawrence curled into the top corner in the 88th minute makes it so much sweeter.

This final should have an intriguing clash of styles, the Reggae Boyz have only conceded two goals in the entire tournament and will set up to force the United States, who like to attack and are the tournament’s highest scorers with a total of 11 goals so far, to dominate possession and break them down.

The United States are unquestionably massive favourites to claim their sixth CONCACAF Gold Cup crown but do not rule Jamaica out one bit – they have already conquered Mexico and have glory in their sights.

Clint Dempsey could become USA’s all time top goalscorer with a goal in the CONCACAF Final Photo Credit: skysports.com

Player to Watch
Clint Dempsey is an USMNT legend, nothing will ever change that. However, he has an opportunity to enhance that legacy on Thursday by scoring the goal that will place him as his country’s record goal-scorer and with a penchant for finding the net when it matters, you wouldn’t bet against him doing it. The ex-New England Revolution, Fulham, Spurs and Seattle Sounders forward is seeking his third CONCACAF Gold Cup against the team who he began his international career against, with a debut v Jamaica 13 years ago in 2004. He has since made a total of 136 appearances for the United States and it would be a special moment for all involved to see him score the winner.

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CONCACAF Gold Cup Semi Final – Mexico v Jamaica – Match Preview

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Mexico v Jamaica – Match Preview – The Rose Bowl, California will host the second CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final as Mexico and Jamaica repeat the 2015 final and battle for the right to face the United States for the title.

Pre-tournament favourites Mexico have reached this stage in a comfortable, yet not completely convincing manner. Two expected wins in the group over El Salvador and Curacao, 3-1 and 2-0 respectively, alongside a 0-0 draw with tomorrow’s semi-final opponents Jamaica helped El Tri to finish top of Group C.

This set up a quarter-final meeting with Group A’s 3rd place finishers Honduras, who only obtained enough points to do so by virtue of a French Guiana forfeit for fielding an ineligible player (Florent Malouda).  An early Rodolfo Pizzaro goal proved enough to separate the two sides in a 1-0 win for Juan Carlos Osario’s side and place Mexico in their sixth successive semi-final in this competition.

The most successful team in the tournament’s history with 10 overall victories, Mexico’s dominance in the CONCACAF region brings a certain level of expectancy with it.
Consequently, despite also competing in the Confederations Cup this summer and finishing 4th, anything less than lifting the Gold Cup trophy on Wednesday will be viewed as a failure.
All the more important considering failure will give the chance for bitter rivals USMNT to claim bragging rights as the confederation’s best side.

The next obstacle for El Tri to accomplish that is Jamaica, in only their fourth ever Gold Cup semi-final but their second in succession, the Reggae Boyz have proven themselves to be capable again this campaign.

Romario Williams scored against Canada to help progress to the Semi Final

Like Mexico, Theodore Whitmore’s side are yet to lose in the competition after a 2-0 victory over Curacao and two draws against Mexico (0-0) and El Salvador (1-1).
Finishing 2nd in Group C saw a match-up against exciting tournament dark horses Canada and Jamaica duly dispatched the Canucks 2-1 courtesy of Shaun Francis and Romario Williams (yes named after ‘that’ Romario) strikes. Portland Timbers forward Darren Mattocks has been pivotal so far, scoring twice in the group stage and setting up both goals against Canada and will be vital for Jamaica securing a shock result.

Make no mistake, the Reggae Boyz are the underdogs here but in a Gold Cup where no single team has asserted dominance it leaves the door wide open for someone just like Jamaica to come and whisk away the title from the favourites.

 

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Nicaragua vs USA – Match Preview

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Nicaragua vs USA – Match Preview – United States face Nicaragua in the FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, to conclude Group B knowing that if they better Panama’s result they will finish top and take them through to the quarter-finals.

Back in charge of USMNT for a second spell, Bruce Arena named a young and relatively untested squad for the 2017 Gold Cup, to raise the competitiveness for places in the World Cup next summer.

Hosts of this tournament, that inexperienced squad has four points from their opening two matches – level with Panama and with the same goal difference – but are top by virtue of goals scored.
A single point would guarantee USMNT’s passage to the last 8 – where they would meet the best third place team from Group A or C.

The second-favourites for the title, The Stars and Stripes have been unconvincing so far – a lethargic draw against Panama and an underwhelming 3-2 victory over Martinique has raised some questions for Arena and his side to answer.

However, it would take something remarkable for Nicaragua to surface from this match with a positive result so panic stations are not being called yet for the five-times champions.

Henry Duarte’s side were massive underdogs coming into this tournament, this year’s edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup is the first time The Pinoleros have qualified for the tournament since 2009. In fact, it is only the second appearance Nicaragua have made in the competition since 1967 where they had a best-ever finish of 6th.
To further illustrate the point, Nicaragua have only ever avoided defeat once (with a draw) at the Gold Cup in every game they played.

This year, Nicaragua have so far lost 2-0 to Martinique and 2-1 to Panama. As such it would take a miracle to get out of the group, needing to beat the U.S. by several goals to secure a best-placed 3rd finish.

So that underdog status is accentuated when playing a CONCACAF powerhouse like the United States – especially when a result is needed by the latter. Nicaragua have nothing to lose and legend status to gain in their homeland. The recipe for an intriguing football match.

Jordan Morris Photo Credit: espnfc.com

Player to Watch
Forward Jordan Morris is doing his best to cement a place in Arena’s World Cup squad at this tournament – saving United States’ blushes with a well-taken brace in the narrow 3-2 victory over Martinique last time out. Morris is definitely capable, his breakthrough season with Seattle Sounders in 2016 displayed that – scoring 12 goals in 41 appearances. The 22-year-old, remarkably, is one of the more experienced players in this squad with 18 caps and will be raring to justify his selection for both this tournament, and hopefully for the ones to come.

 

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