Wednesday night provides a chance at a trophy, but the U.S. Men’s National Team will have to overcome a familiar foe to win this summer’s Gold Cup.
Jamaica awaits in Wednesday’s Gold Cup finale as the USMNT looks to continue the team’s ongoing 13-game unbeaten run. Jamaica, meanwhile, is pushing to win the country’s first Gold Cup after finishing second to Mexico in the 2015 tournament after toppling the USMNT in the semifinals.
This is it! We want the cup! Meet your starting XI for the #GoldCup2017 Final.
Lineup notes: https://t.co/Uj2KthadbZ pic.twitter.com/iN9rlrpXqN
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) July 27, 2017
Bruce Arena opted to start the exact same lineup that led the USMNT to a 2-0 win over Costa Rica on Saturday night. Clint Dempsey, meanwhile, remains on the bench as he looks to surpass Landon Donovan’s goalscoring mark after providing a goal and an assist in the semifinal victory.
The SBI staff will be offering updates and analysis in the comments section below, so feel free to follow along, and as always, please feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions below.
Enjoy the action.
Dempsey with the assist calming that ball and clearing out of the way for Morris. Best work of the night in the box after the cross by Zardes, on of the best of the game. Great poise shown by Morris to get there first with a rocket on frame.
That “…puto…” chant has got to stop,
It’s moronic AF.
I quite agree. No need to stoop down to Mexico-CONCACAF level.
no one was stooping—pretty sure those were the mexico fans who had already bought tickets before they lost in the semis.
Is there a 4th sub if there is extra time tonight?
Yes
Villafaña not convincing me… his lack of pace is causing attacks up the left to sputter, especially when nagbe leads him a bit.
Altidore is dropping back deep, pretty close to bradley! Why’s he so far back?
Bill Maher has a routine called, I can’t prove it, but I know it’s true. In that vein, I can’t prove it, but I know if Dempsey had been a striker when there were all those scrambles in front of goal, we would have gotten at least one goal and would now be ahead 2-9. Well, good that Anti-Score has stepped up.
Oops, that should read ahead 2-0.
Villafaña not convincing me with his speed. Seems the lack of pace is affecting our attacks, especially with Nagbe.
What are your takeaways from the first half? Who stood out to you? Any comments/questions?
Now it’s going to get fun. And probably scary.
Terrible field conditions. Yikes.
Altidore and Morris doing better dropping into the space in front of Bradley and Acosta tonight.
Yeah, think the spacing and timing has been very good but there just hasn’t been much in the final third. Need those early runs to open up a big more space.
Being back by Omar might be too far though Jozy.
Blake out.
The stars keep aligning
Nice goal for jozy but I think Blake saves it.
You’re dreaming!!! It all academic. Who cares? It’s a goal.
I don’t care ken, that was in response to calabazas comment about Blake being out and the stars aligning. You might even say I’m glad the ball went in. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
How was that not a card on Richie? Late and ugly. Morris lucky
Could have been REAL bad. Ankle bent like crazy there.
Kickoff and the Gold Cup final is underway.
U.S. with the bulk of the possession so far. Not too aggressive, but keeping the ball well.
Jamaica pretty physical so far. Morris and Villafana the recipients of hard fouls so far. U.S. doing well out wide, but crosses not there yet.
Nagbe with the USMNT’s best look but it goes well wide. Jamaica yet to truly threaten. USMNT hasn’t found much in terms of shots, but they’re getting into dangerous spots.
TWO SAVES FROM BLAKE! Altidore rips it from range and Blake gets to it. Acosta gets in for the rebound and Blake somehow gets to it. Blake down hurt now. Could be a huge loss for Jamaica.
Looks like a hand injury. Definitely not good for the Reggae Boyz.
Dwayne Miller on for Blake, who leaves just 23 minutes in. Awful for the Jamaica goalkeeper, and massive loss for the Reggae Boyz. Massive step down in goal. Blake has arguably been the tournament’s most important player.
38′ U.S. defense makes Mattocks look like Neymar over there. Gonzalez indecisive and gets beat, but he gets back to poke it out for a corner kick.
41′ Great sequence for the USMNT but a heavy touch in the box from Arriola kills it. Acosta then called for a foul. Real chance for the U.S.
GOAL ALTIDORE! And a Golazo at that! Incredible free kick from the USMNT forward as he curls it into the upper left-hand corner from 30 yards or so. Off the bar and in and it’s 1-0 to the U.S.
HALFTIME: 1-0 to the USMNT via Altidore’s free kick stunner. Loss of Blake looms large for Jamaica, who obviously have the ability to get back in this. Good half from the U.S., though.
Second half is underway.
GOAL JAMAICA! WATSON! Corner kick and Morris gets beat on the back post. Finishes on the volley and Howard is helpless. 1-1
Dempsey in for Acosta. Assume that pushes Nagbe central and Morris out wide.
Good news revealed on the broadcast. X-Rays on Blake’s hand have come back negative.
72′ SAVE MILLER! Chance for Morris and Miller makes a leaping save. U.S. turning up the pressure now.
OFF THE POST! Just moments after a Jamaica chance, Dempsey hits one off the post. THAT close to a go-ahead goal and a USMNT record.
Zardes on for Arriola. About 15 minutes before ET.
86′ Dempsey’s free kick plays pinball in the box and it turns into a mad scramble. Morris almost gets to it but the U.S. is eventually called for a foul.
GOAL MORRIS AND THAT MIGHT JUST DO IT! 88th minute and the ball falls right to the feet of Morris following a mishit clearance. Zardes with the initial cross and Morris rockets a shot past three defenders and into the net. 2-1 to the USMNT. Time to hold on.
Who gets called in in September?
In terms of newcomers? Hard to see many surprises. Could see Rowe playing his way back onto a qualifying roster. Dwyer a question mark due to the move. Could see Lichaj back. Will probably be a bit too early for Lletget, but he might be in the mix come October.
Someone is due for a big game, Arriola is my pick. A goal and an assist 2-0 US.
Matchup against Lawrence should be a very fun one. Both have the speed to go at one another. Arriola did look good last game, though.
Does anyone know what time actual kick off is? Is 9:30 kick off or broadcast?
It’s CONCACAF. Kickoff coming around 9:50
Hey all and welcome to SBI’s Live Chat for tonight’s Gold Cup final. Will be here throughout to talk all things USMNT. What are your thoughts/predictions for tonight? What do you think of the lineup? Any pregame questions? Should be a fun night.