The US had barely recovered from the shock of going behind when a moment of brilliance from the enterprising Barnes saw Jamaica double their lead.

After subbing in Mix Diskerud for defensive Kyler Beckerman in the 66th minute, Klinsmann made another move in the 73rd minute, putting on Alan Gordon for Johansson. The U.S. missed several shots, including one attempt by Sigi Stritzl (he played for B.W. Gottschee and the Cosmos) that hit the crossbar in the opening five minutes, the Associated Press reported.

David Goldman|AP Photo Jamaica’s Rudolph Austin, facing camera, celebrates with teammates Joel McAnuff, left, and Je-Vaughn Watson, right, as United States’ DeAndre Yedlin walks off the pitch after Jamaica defeated the United States 2-1 in a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta. “We’re looking forward to the final now; hopefully we can win it”, he added.

The Yanks were back in the game and they kept pushing for the tying goal.

“Some of the kids in there, I would love to have at the senior level”, Klinsmann said. We certainly didn’t think that. The Rochester Lancers and Washington Darts were enticed to jump leagues from the American Soccer League to the NASL, saving the circuit and perhaps professional soccer in America as we know it. “It was”.

That resume lines up surprisingly well with Klinsmann’s, but the German’s job is nearly certainly not in danger following the loss to Jamaica.

It’s hardly what the Americans and coach Jurgen Klinsmann probably expected to be doing this weekend. “We didn’t do that, and that’s why, at the end of the day, we lost. It’s unfortunate, but it’s reality”. “We have to swallow that pill”. But under new guidelines, if consecutive editions of the biennial Gold Cups are won by different nations a playoff must be held to determine the Confederations Cup entrant. It lost to the U.S.in the 2013 final after beating Mexico in the semifinals. Yes, the U.S. has reached the Gold Cup final in the last five tournaments and had said winning this trophy was a must, but they came up against a talented Jamaica side who have spent all summer together and have conceded just six goals in eight games of tournament play. I just wonder if we would have had the Cosmos, or a team like the Cosmos, Pele and the ensuing soccer boom that we are still enjoying today.

Jamaica will take on the victor of Panama-Mexico in their first- ever Gold Cup final on Sunday, at a sold-out Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, while the loss means the US will miss out on the final for the first time since 2003, sending it into the match for third place on tomorrow at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania. “Just as when we beat Holland and Germany, this game doesn’t define us”.

A year ago, the American men reached the knockout round of the World Cup before losing to Belgium in extra time, giving the world’s most popular game a bit more of a foothold in a country still dominated by football, baseball and basketball.

Regardless that the Americans took 10 more shots and got seven more on target, the Jamaican defense had their way with the Yanks.