History making Reggae Boyz stun USA
FIFA.com
Darren Mattocks and Giles Barnes were on target as Jamaica claimed a major upset with a 2-1 defeat over defending champions USA to reach their first-ever CONCACAF Gold Cup final.
Two goals in the space of five first-half minutes at the Georgia Dome were enough to give Winfried Schafer's Reggae Boyz the victory despite Michael Bradley reducing the deficit at the beginning of the second half as Jamaica held on to become the first Caribbean side to ever reach the final.
After an uneventful opening quarter, Jurgen Klinsmann's five-time winners began to dominate midway through the first half as Aron Johannsson tested goalkeeper Ryan Thompson and then Gyasi Zardes fired over the crossbar with a powerful effort as they searched for the opener.
Moments later Johannsson forced a mistake from an under-pressure Thompson, who failed the clear the ball, as the former kicked the ball into the side netting, then Fabian Johnson forced a diving save from the Jamaica stopper.
But against the run of play, Jamaica took a shock lead as Vancouver Whitecaps striker Mattocks flicked on from Kemar Lawrence's long throw-in, first beating goalkeeper Brad Guzan with his effort, which then struck the inside of the post before bobbling over the line.
The opener seemed to knock the co-hosts for six and it did not take long for Barnes to send his perfect free-kick on the edge of the penalty box over the defensive wall and past a diving Guzan to make it two.
The Unites States came out all guns blazing in the second half and it did not take them long to reduce the deficit. Just three minutes in, Johannsson brought a save out of Thompson but the keeper fumbled the ball out to Bradley, who made no mistake as he pulled one back from close range.
The goal gave the co-hosts renewed hope and a free-kick followed moments later after Johannsson was brought down by just outside the 18-yard box, but Thompson managed to keep the ball out. Clint Dempsey had a near miss close to the hour mark and John Brooks' header almost got past Thompson 10 minutes later, but Jamaica held on to reach their first-ever final.