By Paul Nicholson
July 23 – Not even the FBI could prevent the Caribbean having their day in the Gold Cup sunshine in the US. A history making 2-1 semi-final victory over the US in Atlanta yesterday catapulted the Reggae Boyz from Jamaica into a final against Mexico in Philadelphia this Sunday.
Jamaican federation president Captain Horace Burrell will welcome the progress his team are making in international football as much as he will find unwelcome the threatening presence of his new US Department of Justice bedfellows in the region.
Jamaica became the first Caribbean team to reach the CONCACAF Gold Cup final in the 24 year history of the competition that is now in its 13th edition.
Jamaica have been rapidly improving throughout the summer, following a spirited campaign in the Copa America in Chile last month. The result is perhaps one of the biggest upsets in Gold Cup history, but on form not entirely unexpected. Two first half goals from the Reggae Boyz saw an immediate reply from the US after the break, followed by waves of pressure in the Jamaican half.
The Jamaicans held out, securing a verdict for the Caribbean that seems unlikely to be mirrored so welcomingly in US courts later this year. Justice can sometimes be a cruel perversion of the pattern of play – for the loser.
In their semi-final Mexico overcame a 10-man Panama but only after more injury time drama for the Mexicans.
A player down but a goal up, Panama looked like going through to a consecutive final appearance until they gave a penalty away in injury time. Mexico have become fond of injury time drama, having thrown away a two goal winning advantage in a group match against Trinidad earlier in the competition.
But last night the injury time gods ruled in Mexico’s favour. The penalty was converted taking the match into extra time where Mexico won another penalty and the match. Vehement protests from the Panamanians at the final whistle cast an ugly shadow over what had been emotional rollercoaster of CONCACAF Gold Cup football over the two matches in the packed out stadium.
So now on to the final at a sold out Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia where the Reggae Boyz will doubtless turn up the base for the mariachi Mexicans (a world record for the most mariachi bands in one place at one time was set at the opener of the 2013 Gold Cup at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles).
At stake is the 2015 Gold Cup title and a play off against the USA (2013 Gold Cup winners) for a place in the 2017 Confederations Cup in … Russia.
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