Jamaica to face Mexico in Gold Cup final
Jamaica advanced to their first Gold Cup final following a shock 2-1 defeat over the holders United States. Mexico will meet them in the final after their controversial victory over Panama.
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Jamaica became the first Caribbean squad to reach the final of the Gold Cup on Thursday after a 2-1 victory over defending champions the United States.
Darren Mattocks headed in the opening goal after 31 minutes and a spectacular Giles Barnes free kick doubled the advantage five minutes later.
The American fightback at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta came just after the pause. US skipper Michael Bradley slotted home after a goalmouth scramble to halve the deficit.
But, despite constant pressure and numerous chances, the hosts could not equalise.
"We made history by getting into the final. It shows what this team is capable of," Barnes said. "We've shocked a few people along the way but we've not shocked ourselves. We don't fear anybody. We put out a great team."
Jamaica had twice been in the last four in 1993 and 1998. They were the first Caribbean semi-finalists since Guadeloupe in 2007.
Their surge to the final comes after an invitation to appear at the Copa America last month where they played in a group featuring Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
"We cannot have a party now. We still have one more match," said Jamaica coach Winfried Schaefer said.
"The feeling right now is just insane," Barnes added. "The phone hasn't stopped. Back in Jamaica there's got to be a party on. It will be even bigger when we lift the cup on Sunday."
The US had been hunting a sixth Gold Cup.
"The team is disappointed," coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "I cannot complain about the performance of the team. They kept pushing, pushing, pushing. We had enough chances to put three, four, five in there and we didn't do it and that's why we lost.
"Congratulations to Jamaica on making the final and we have to swallow that pill.
"The luck was not with us but maybe we were not clinical enough as well," Klinsmann said. "We saw a lot of good stuff but it's the goals that matter."
Jamaica will take on Mexico in Sunday's final after they came from behind to edge past Panama 2-1.
It was a fractious match that ended with Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez lambasting the match officials. He said his team had been robbed of a rightful victory.
Mexican captain Andres Guardado scored from the penalty spot in second-half stoppage time to bring the sides level. His second penalty was converted during extra time.
"This is a big robbery," Gomez said. "It was robbery at gunpoint. It's a very sad thing to say. We were robbed."
Gomez was also furious with the referee Mark Geiger for sending off the Panama striker Luis Tejada in the 25th minute.
Despite the disadvantage, Panama took the lead early in the second-half 1-0 lead courtesy of a header by skipper Roman Torres in the 57th minute.
But in the dying seconds just as he was about to be hailed a hero, Geiger ruled that Torres had handled the ball in the penalty area.
A mass brawl ensued as both sets of players surrounded him. Equally inflamed spectators hurled food and other missiles at the melee.
"The referee made a monumental error and all this great effort was thrown away because of this," Gomez said. "We have to make sure this doesn't happen again."
Guardado's second spot kick followed Herold Cummings foul Javier Orozco in the area towards the end of the first period of extra time.
At the final whistle, two Panama players raced from the touch line onto the field, chasing referee Geiger before being restrained by teammates.
Geiger was escorted from the field by a ring of police and security guards.
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