The U.S. Men’s National Team are through to the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup final after beating Jamaica 3-1 on Thursday night in Nashville.
For the U.S. to win back-to-back Gold Cups, they’ll need to beat Mexico on Sunday night at Soldier Field in Chicago. The two Concacaf powerhouses, who haven’t met in a final since 2011, kick off at 9 p.m. ET on FS1.
How it happened
Beating Jamaica wasn’t easy, however.
After the Americans produced their best spell of play under Head Coach Gregg Berhalter since he took the job last year, the dominance only lasted 17 minutes before a 90-minute stadium-clearing weather delay. Up to that point, the U.S. led 1-0 via a Weston McKennie goal in the ninth minute.
When play resumed, the match was choppy and saw both countries scrap toward a spot in the final.
The U.S. doubled their lead in the 52nd minute when Christian Pulisic buried a rebound past Jamaica’s Andre Blake. Pulisic scored again in the 87th minute, making the score 3-1 after the Reggae Boyz produced a goal from Shamar Nicholson in the 69th minute.
What this means
For FC Cincinnati fans, this is important for club and country alike.
The USMNT could earn an American double Sunday night, assuming the U.S. Women’s National Team beat the Netherlands in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final earlier in the day. (That match begins at 11 a.m. ET on FOX.)
Since the USMNT failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, pressure from supporters and the media has surrounded the men’s campaign. A chance to beat archrival Mexico on home soil in the first major international tournament since that qualifying catastrophe would be something to savor.
As for FC Cincinnati, however, Jamaica’s elimination means Darren Mattocks and Alvas Powell will return to the Mercy Health Training Center sooner. While they most likely won’t play Saturday night at Nippert Stadium against the Houston Dynamo, the Jamaican duo should be available for next Saturday night at the Chicago Fire.
Both Powell and Mattocks started in the Gold Cup semifinal loss, and the right back delivered impressive “tekkers” with three nutmegs. Here’s a look at two:
