Inspired Jamaica Shocks U.S., 2-1, in Gold Cup Semi

ATLANTA—It was a familiar formula—one that had worked myriad times over the years for the United States men’s national team. Despite getting outplayed and giving up the majority of possession and chances, play effective defense, use counter-attacks to draw freekicks, and score on set pieces. Unfortunately for the U.S., that formula worked against them as the Americans fell to Jamaica 2-1 before a sold-out Georgia Dome in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The loss sent the Americans into Saturday’s third-place match and prevented the squad from clinching a place in the 2017 Confederations Cup.

With the exception of five pivotal minutes, the U.S. dominated the game but while a Michael Bradley goal early in the 2nd half gave the U.S. hope, the team could not take advantage of its superior possession and shots.

The loss is one of many firsts for the U.S. It’s the first time the team has not made the Gold Cup final since falling to guest-country Brazil in 2003. It’s the first time it has been eliminated by a CONCACAF team before the final. And it’s the first time it has lost in the knockout stage of the tournament to a CONCACAF team. The match also snapped a nine-game unbeaten streak.

It might also call into question Jurgen Klinsmann’s job security and how far the team has improved under his watch, which began shortly after Bob Bradley was fired after the U.S. lost the 2011 Gold Cup final to Mexico.

Things began to go wrong for the U.S. in the 31st minute when Jamaica had a routine throw-in to the box. But John Brooks completely lost his mark, allowing the Vancouver Whitecaps Darren Mattocks to win a header that he looped to the back corner, over Brad Guzan. The shot from Mattocks, who played two seasons of college soccer at the University of Akron, caught the far post then trickled back across the goal line before Guzan could clear it to give Jamaica the lead. 

The Americans seemed rattled after the goal and were briefly on their heels as the Jamaicans suddenly surged with confidence. Then things went from bad to worse after Guzan, while attempting to distribute, was called by Costa Rican ref Ricardo Montero for handling the ball outside the 18-yard area. The Houston Dynamo’s Giles Barnes took the ensuing free kick and hit a beauty, burying it near post to make it 2-0 in the 36th minute. 

While technically the correct call, the handball on Guzan is one that happens several times per game in almost every high-level soccer match and is rarely, if ever called—something the U.S. will no doubt feel hard-done by.

Klinsmann opted to make no changes at halftime and at first that seemed a smart strategy when Bradley pounced in 49th after Jamaican goalkeeper Ryan Thompson spilled a rebound. The U.S. continued to push and had several close chances, the best one being a Bradley laser that bounced from Thomas’ chest and off the goalpost in the 57th minute. 

Klinsmann tried to sway the game by inserting Mix Diskerud, Alan Gordon, and DeAndre Yedlin—all players with a proven history off the bench—but none of them could make a difference. The U.S. is out of the 2015 Gold Cup and now must play against this year’s winner for a chance to participate in the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia. 

Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.