When the United States met Jamaica in the Gold Cup semifinals, the script seemed almost pre-written: the USMNT would dispose of the last Caribbean nation left in the tournament and move on to face the winner of the match between Mexico and Panama. Still, the Jamaicans had their own hype about them after a group stage in which Caribbean nations punched above their weight, registering results against heavily favored Central American teams.
Jamaica has had a historically lopsided record against the United States, only winning one meeting of 22, with the Americans earning 13 wins. Still, Jamaica were confident heading into their match with the team most analysts expected would move on to eventually win the 2015 Gold Cup. ESPN reported earlier today:
“It feels like David against Goliath,” [Jamaica Coach Winfried] Schaefer told reporters on Tuesday. “That’s fine with us. We will try to hit the giant where it hurts the most.
It was obvious from the first whistle that they were confident in their own hype. With a squad bolstered by 10 youngsters playing for MLS or USL clubs, Jamaica’s available talent has improved considerably over the past couple years.
Timmy Chandler took a seat with an injury in their Gold Cup semifinal meeting with an upstart Jamaica. Damarcus Beasley was also out due to knocks from training earlier in the week. Despite being heavy underdogs, Jamaica gave the United States several scares early on in the match; they were especially adept at capitalizing on the Americans’ turnovers, breaking with great speed toward the United States’ goal.
With veterans like the Houston Dynamo’s Giles Barnes and young talent like Michael Seaton of D.C. United and the Richmond Kickers, the quality of Jamaican players choosing to play closer to their country of origin has risen considerably; Jamaican goalkeeper Ryan Thompson, who managed to hold the United States scoreless on several dangerous chances, plays for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL.
That marked improvement has coupled well with an existing core of Jamaican talent playing for clubs from the English Championship to assemble the most consistent team at this year’s Gold Cup.
The match looked fluid from the opening minutes, with both Jamaica and the United States earning several opportunities on goal. As the game began to settle, however, the United States appeared to slowly pile on increasing pressure, forcing a wondrous 29th minute save by Jamaica’s Ryan Thompson.
Jamaica still managed to create chances in the United States’ defensive third and apply pressure, shocking the Americans with a 31st minute goal just past the outstretched arm of Brad Guzan; the ball ricocheted off the Americans’ goal and crossed the line by a hair. Jamaica then put in another in the 36th minute off a Giles Barnes free kick to make the score 2-0 in their favor.
The United States were experiencing several issues, most importantly Kyle Beckerman being exposed by the Jamaican’s speed: a conscious decision on the part of the Jamaicans, who have exploited that weakness in the past against the United States.
Gyasi Zardes was able to create and take a couple opportunities before the United States fell behind, but his touch is still as rough as it has ever been. For large stretches of the first half, Aron Johannssen was invisible, and the midfield had trouble stringing more than 3 passes together without turning the ball over.
Half time saw no changes except for Alejandro Bedoya and Gyasi Zardes making an on-field switch, but the United States responded immediately with Michael Bradley scoring on a second rebound from near the top of the goal box in the 48th minute.
Exactly what the US needed. Crush them. Crush their spirits. Crush their dreams. Crush their lead. #USMNT #USAvJAM
— Matt Pollard (@LWOSMattPollard) July 22, 2015
Bradley nearly tied the match 9 minutes later from 20 yards out, but it deflected off the keeper and the post to keep the score at 2-1. Mix Diskerud replaced Kyle Beckerman in the 67th minute, an astute substitution as Beckerman was sitting on a yellow card. Next, Jurgen Klinsmann replaced Johannssen in the 73rd minute with the LA Galaxy’s Alan Gordon, who once led MLS in goals off the bench. Almost immediately afterward, DeAndre Yedlin came on to replace Alejandro Bedoya in the midfield. Still, it was not enough and the United States fell to their Caribbean rivals 2-1 after 3 minutes of stoppage time. The United States’ performance in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup raises questions about whether Jurgen Klinsmann should remain at the helm of the men’s national team. If the United States doesn’t take the third place game by storm, expect Jurgen Klinsmann to join Mexico’s Miguel Herrera on the hot seat. In the words of one twitter user:
Across the world, thousands of coaches are forwarding their resume to Sunil Gulati #USAvJam
— Sean Steffen (@SeanSteffen) July 22, 2015
The “revolution” Klinsmann promised for U.S. Soccer seems to have stalled, or worse never arrived. This loss also gives fodder to long-time critics of the former player’s personnel choices and tactical decision-making. For the first time since 2002 that the United States has not made the final.
Had the loss come against Mexico or even Costa Rica, rather than a relative minnow in Jamaica, it may have been more palatable to the millions of eyes watching the team. Klinsmann will be hard pressed to retain fan support after this embarrassing loss, and should be compelled to make some changes in his own decision-making lest he be swept out of his role as head coach.
The loss also means the United States will face the winner of this edition of the Gold Cup in a playoff match this October for a coveted spot in the 2017 Confederations Cup. It was the hope of USMNT fans and U.S. Soccer that the United States would win the 2015 Gold Cup to lock up that spot in the dress rehearsal for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The United States will face off against the loser of the Mexico vs. Panama match at PPL Park in Philadelphia Saturday July 25 at 4:00pm. Jamaica will face the winner in the Gold Cup Final at Lincoln Financial Field Sunday July 26 at 7:30pm
