USA vs. Jamaica Preview - Gold Cup 2015

The United States find themselves in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarterfinals, facing Jamaica who they have played a total of 22 times since 1980.  The US holds the advantage historically with a record of 13 wins, 1 loss and 8 ties.  Before diving into this match, lets take a look back at how the US got to this point.

Group A: USA 2 – 1 Honduras

Group A play began with a match against Honduras.  The result came courtesy of two Clint Dempsey goals, finding his first goal of the tournament in the 29^th minute.   Dempsey’s finished a scramble in the box by heading a rebound past the sprawling Honduran goalkeeper, giving the US an early lead.  He then added his second goal in the 64^th minute once again using his head as the weapon of choice.  Honduras found a potential lifeline in the 68^th when substitute Carlos Discua finished coolly past US goalie Brad Guzan, but this was not enough to alter the fixture in their favor.

Group A: USA 1 – 0 Haiti

The second match on paper seemed like an easy affair.  However, Haiti fought valiantly pressuring the US defense, which looked shaky at best.  A deadlock heading into the halftime, the match found its only goal off the right foot of Clint Dempsey.  Coach Jürgen Klinsmann substituted forward Jozy Alitdore for rising star Gyasi Zardes in the 46^th minute, shortly after this he provided a well weighted pass to the on rushing Dempsey, whose shot from the run of play found its way into the upper right hand corner of the Haitian net. 

Group A: USA 1 – 1 Panama

Having recorded max points through their first two Group A matches, the US secured a Quarterfinal birth by ways of winning Group A.  Entering this match it was imperative that Panama grasp at least a point, which was reflected in the nations effort.  The game got off to a slow start for the US, with central defender John Brooks recording a yellow, forcing him to miss the Quarterfinal.  Things got even worse when Panamanian captain Blas Perez opened the scoring in the 33^rd minute. The forward tapped home from short after his strike partner Luis Tejada maneuvered through US defense.  Halftime substitutes again proved the recipe for success; with DeAndre Yedlin and Clint Dempsey bring life to onto the pitch after a bland first half performance.  The US found their lone goal when Michael Bradley lay out in the box to poke home a beautiful ball from Alejandro Bedoya.  Bradley capped off once of a stellar sequence of passing, which involved Gyasi Zardes and Dempsey.

Quarterfinals: USA 6 – 0 Cuba

After what most have labeled as a less than acceptable group stage performance, the US showed no mercy against an overmatched Cuba.  Clint Dempsey opened the scoring in the 3^rd minute smashing a header into the Cuban goal.  From that point on the US did not look back as Dempsey played on recording his first career international hat trick.  Gyasi Zardes, Aron Johannsson and defender Omar Gonzalez added goals before Dempsey completed his scoring with a penalty and a left footed strike.  Although this result does not come as a surprise, the offensive display also showcased the emergence of forward Aron Johannsson who will most likely make another appearance against Jamaica.

Semifinal Preview: USA vs. Jamaica

The US now face Jamaica, whose road to the Semifinal began by advancing to the Quarterfinals as the winners of Group B.  In there Quarterfinal match against Haiti; forward Giles Barnes 6^th minute goal was enough to push them through to the Quarterfinal.

Even though the US is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings, The Reggae Boyz will be no push over.  Committing the second most total teams fouls (63) so far in the tournament they will attempt to use their physicality and pace to rattle the US defense, which has yet to prove it is up to par.  On the flipside Jamaica has not looked very threatening on the attack mustering a total of 5 goals, one less than Gold Cup leading scorer Clint Dempsey (6).  If Jamaica is to top their best ever finish, third-place 1993, central midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson must disrupt the US possession by keeping a close position to Michael Bradley.  

The key to this match will be how the US decides to play. When they have come out firing on all cylinders and put together confident defensive performance, they can compete with any opponent.  Setting the tempo early allow the midfield led by captain Michael Bradley to push up the field, giving them strength in numbers on the attack.  Bradley has demonstrated time and time again why he is worthy of the captains armband, with a combination of finesse and true grit.  One area of play that needs no lengthy explanation is goalkeeping.  Brad Guzan has been a rock in net as the former backup has more than proved he can be a capable starting goalie.