Mexico then went on to win another penalty in extra-time (which looked right), also converted by Guardado, which sent them through to the final with Jamaica. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Klinsmann is under increasing pressure to keep his job ahead of the USA’s meeting with Panama in the third-place play-off on Saturday. “We need to go in with the right attitude”.
The defeat for the U.S. was the first to a Caribbean rival in nearly 50 years and will now see the CONCACAF giants miss out on the Gold Cup final for the first time in 12 years.
Winning the Gold Cup would have secured for the U.S. a berth in the 2017 Federation Internationale de Football Association Confederations Cup. Jamaica scuttled those plans, skillfully executing two set pieces about five minutes apart in the first half and holding off a furious rally in the second. But effort-wise, rhythm-wise, passing combinations, everything was there. “It doesn’t erase a lot of the good stuff we’ve done. But the goals weren’t there”.
The Jamaicans first goal was a result of the two center backs being a step behind the pace of the game. Klinsmann started Brad Evans, Fabio Johnson on the sides with John brooks and Ventura Alvarado in the center of the defense.
Yes, it’s just the Gold Cup, but this tournament is ours and the most important one outside of the World Cup.
None of it prevented Jamaica from handing the Americans their biggest upset defeat.
The U.S. was largely unimpressive through the group stages before thrashing Cuba 6-0 in the quarterfinals, but its run came to an end against Jamaica.
The way the Jamaican defenders actually frustrated US attacks for the first half hour was mesmerizing.
“I spoke to coach Klinsmann and we have had open lines of communication as recently as last week”. Impressive. What hasn’t been impressive is the play of Klinsmann’s side.
Everton goalie Tim Howard has announced that he is ready to return to the US national team. The Americans failed to qualify for the 2012 London Games, a significant setback for the under-23 program. Throw in this month’s victory in the Women’s World Cup, and U.S. soccer was really on a roll.
“We’ve just put one of the big boys out, so it just shows that we can hang with the best right now”, Barnes said. “It’s a very sad thing to say”. “We’ll figure that out”.
“But like we have done for the tournament, we dug in together, everything’s been done as a team and that’s what has got us to the final”. “We’ve shocked a few people along the way but we’ve not shocked ourselves”. “But there’s more hard work”. So it’s not going to be a panacea. It was the team’s third World Cup title, most of any nation. “The players need their (head) for playing, not only running”.
Giles Barnes and Je-Vaughn Watson celebrating their historical 2-1 victory over the United States on Wednesday at the Georgia Dome.
The USMNT burning in the semifinals indicates that CONCACAF’s Confederations Cup oppose game experience involving the 2013 and 2015 Gold Cup triumphators will occur.
Panama’s Roman Torres scored on a header early in the second half, and the 1-0 lead held until Guardado’s penalty kick in stoppage time.
Lyndon B. Johnson announced he wouldn’t seek re-election the last time the U.S. lost to a Caribbean team at home.
