photo by Bill Streicher/USA Today Sports
By FRANCO PANIZO
PHILADELPHIA — Jamaica knocked off one CONCACAF powerhouse. It could not knock off the other.
Mexico reclaimed the Gold Cup title for the first time since 2011 and seventh time overall with a 3-1 triumph over Jamaica in the tournament final at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday night. Andres Guardado netted the opener for El Tri in the first half, and Jesus Corona and Oribe Peralta added goals after the break to ensure Mexico claimed the regional crown.
The victory means that Mexico will now face the U.S. Men’s National Team, the winner of the last Gold Cup, in the 2017 Confederations Cup playoff on Oct. 9.
Underdog Jamaica was the better team in the early going of a match played in front of 68,930 fans, but could not capitalize on the bright start. The Mexicans punished the Reggae Boyz for that failure to finish, with Guardado striking in the 31st minute.
After a free kick was played out wide to the right, Paul Aguilar whipped in a cross that Guardado picked out of the sky and rifled into the back of the net with the inside of his left foot.
Corona doubled the lead a minute after halftime, capitalizing on a mistake at the back by Jamaica. Michael Hector was stripped of the ball in the final third on the play, and Corona collected the ball before hitting a low shot to the bottom right corner that stood as the game-winner.
Another Jamaican blunder allowed Mexico to move three goals in front, as Oribe Peralta pounced on a failed clearance by Hector inside the penalty area and one-timed a shot into the back of the net.
The Reggae Boyz found a late consolation goal when Darren Mattocks pushed inside of his defender and slotted an 80th-minute effort past Guillermo Ochoa.
While Jamaica pulled one back in the second half, it struggled to replicate its impressive start to the match. Jamaica came out of the gates with plenty of confidence, hitting a lot of short passes and combing well to use its speed to test Mexico’s defense.
The Jamaicans whipped in several dangerous crosses during the opening 15 minutes, but were unable to find an end product.
Mexico – which entered the game after controversial wins in the last two rounds – eventually settled in and found more success with possession. That allowed the North American nation to create chances, and ultimately find the back of the net.
Corona nearly snapped a header into the lower corner in the 25th minute, but Jamaica goalkeeper Ryan Thompson got down to deny him.
Mexico had another good look in the 29th minute. Corona cut inside of a defender on the left side of the penalty area before hitting a looping shot that went over Jamaica’s goal.
Thompson also prevented Mexico from going up 4-0, superbly stopping a chance from Corona in the 71st minute.
El Tri will now set its sights on the Oct. 9 playoff match with the U.S. at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, a game that will determine which CONCACAF nation reaches the 2017 Confederations Cup.
What do you think of Mexico’s 3-1 win over Jamaica in the Gold Cup final? Which players impressed/disappointed you? How eager are you looking forward to the USMNT-Mexico playoff in October?
Share your thoughts below.
MEXICOOOOO SUCKSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WWEE of futbol. Mexico is a disgrace. Fans …. players
Mexico is still the best of CONCACAF.
Maybe one day, after our generation, the U.S. National Tam will catch up to them.
Mexico sucks dude. What the heck!!!!!! Who has won their group in Concacaf for qualifying the last three times and who has one better on paper in the WC. Who Beat Mexico in 2002 LLOLLL Tha USA!!! You are so lame you fake US fan. You pricks are all over the place here
So concacaf heads got what they wanted. Time for another dos a cero beatdown
CONCACAF organized their playoff payday. Nothing more to make of it.
This is the worst Gold Cup performance for USMNT, another first for Klinsmann. It tops the 2009 5-0 humiliating loss to Mexico in the final. At least back them we lost in the final to a Mexican team that had stars like Gio,Vela, Torrado and El Memo Ochoa.
Shame we have to play Mexico in LA. Why couldn’t it have been in Seattle, Portland, or Ohio.
because corrupt CONCACAF will make more money from Mexi-fans at the rose bowl.
Seems fair we host the gold cup every year now and they did win this year so they should at least have some benefit.
Mexico’s first goal was a great shot, but it followed a couple failed clearance attempts by Jamaica and should never have happened.
Mexico’s second goal was the direct result of a bad giveaway and the 3rd was off a ball that inexplicably slipped between the defenders legs to set up an easy shot.
Jamaica did not make so many mistakes in any of their last several games. Mexico was able to capitalize. Jamaica looked dangerous at times, but it was just not their night.
Lots of happy Mexicans in Philly tonight.
Yup. #3 for Jamaica had himself an absolutely wretched game. Two bad, inexplicable giveaways in bad areas where he basically tripped over the ball, two Mexican goals. Bang. That’s the ball game.
Against the USA, they managed all of three shots on goal, and scored with a crazy header and a free kick courtesy of a really ticky-tack ref call. Instead of getting those two goals they proceeded to gift them to Mexico. There was a reason #3 was inconsolable after the game; he knew what he’d done.
That’s soccer, sometimes.
We scored a goal off a gift from the keeper and AJ should’ve had another one. The fact is we got as many gifts as Mexico except they took advantage of them and we didn’t.
+1
+ 1
No, the difference was that Mexico had a 12th man, corrupt refs. That’s the only reason you guys got to the final.
i wonder if him and Geiger received payment before the tournament or is it an IOU thing
He received a year supply of free tacos from Taco Bell
The embarrassment is now complete for us. Not only do we not get 3’d place, Mexico dismantled a Jamaica team that beat us. That says not only did we stink, we stunk bad. Thanks Klinsmann for the second worst Gold Cup ever.
I expect major changes from Klinsmann after this. No more Wondo, Zusi, Beckerman, Gordon, Chandler, Corona and Beasley….. and you better start looking at other players as well. As much as we need his goals, Dempsey is getting to be too old and we need to move on. We also need to look for a better option than Jozy… he is not and has not been, the answer. This group clearly was not up to representing the USA, no matter where they’re from. Will this happen? I doubt it. Klinsmann is far too stubborn to even accept the blame for this epic failure let alone take the corrective action it has called for. .
I am not scared of Mexico in the Oct. playoff IF we field a good team and this group was not a good team. We have beat them multiple times in the past and will do so again. It’s simply a matter of getting the right players on the field
I agree with your just criticism of Klinsmann, but the only solution is to get rid of him. Come a couple of weeks he would already have forgotten what transpired in this embarrassing Gold Cup.
Fake win. They should hand Panama the trophy. Panama was the best team in the tournament they beat the U.S. And Mexico but only hot credit for the U.S. Win
Panama the best team. Yikes. If you like ultra defensive soccer I guess so. Eight defenders in the back , two rows of four and the last row in the penalty area. Very well defended tactically but I sure was not sorry to see them lose. Once they went down one then they get even more defensive. If Mexico didn’t keep attacking and going forward there would not have been any space in the back for their counters. Of course then you get Jamaica trying to attack in numbers and their players not returning to cover. That’s when Mexico plays their best when there is space and that just exposed a lot of their weaknesses. The U.S. lost and Mexico almost didn’t make it either but I sure would not have wanted to see Jamaica and Panama in the finals as they are clearly not the best teams in the region.
Dudette, accept that Mexico is the best team in CONCACAF.
They are the team that will come in third or fourth in qualifying. LLOLLLL!!!!!
RonE, you sound like one of those chicks thats just annoying to be around. That’s probably why you don’t have a man right now and that’s why your probably upset. Rinse your coochy out and enjoy life.
Hey sweetheart, why don’t you just leave the sports talk to the boy and go back to the kitchen ….make me a sandwich OK princess.
Panama was not the best team, Mexico was. Mexico is the King of CONCACAF
It’s been a couple of hours since the game ended. What’s the holdup? Why hasn’t CONCAFAF announced the playoff game will be played in Mexico City North? 100,000 Mexicans are waiting to buy tickets and fill the Rose Bowl. Any time now……
LOL…that Gold Cup “win” is about as legit as Barry Bonds’ home run records.
You can credibly argue that Mexico’s semifinal result vs. Panama was questionable, but they were clearly superior to Jamaica in the final, without anyone’s help.
“credibly argue” it was “questionable,” rofl even MX players admit it was a joke. MX had no business being in the final and it’s not a secret
Lol. I’d hate to be a member of your household for the next couple of days. Hang in there bro, better days are sure to come.
Actually my wife was more upset by the Jamaica loss than me so it’s cool. Enjoy your team’s “victory” big guy. Maybe it’ll stop your usual anti-America vitriol for a few days.
This MEX win better light a fire under Klinsmann and US players heading into playoff. Simply embarrassing to have Mexico win in US. They shouldn’t have even been there save for Saint Geiger.
Rather a ref than a Supreme Court judge, this guy could have had an innocent man to death with his decision making! Should have been a JAM v PAN final! Really! Now we must fix this mess come October
Honestly, El San, I am worried. We play anything near the way we did in GC and we can kiss confed cup goodbye. Never saw thos coming, especially after looking so good against GER
True, if only Papa Gulati could take away Klinsy’s experimental privileges cause he hasn’t been doing his homework lately. Time will tell if either Klinsmann passes his next test or if Sunil finally looks at his report cards
Credit to Jamaica for at least trying to play good and honest soccer. Unfortunately for them no CONCACAF team can beat a Mexico that way.
as much as everyone hate Mexico people have to accept it is the most talented team in CONCACAF, no way around it, Yeah you can beat them if you park the bus and look for a counter but if you try to play at their level they destroy you, everyone in this confederation should pray they never find a way to open bunkers.
I don’t recall the US parking any bus in any of our 3 recent dos-cero victories.. sure MX is talented but the US has proven it can go toe to toe with them
J.K showed concacaf how to park the bus and hope the counter works. Every team that played Mexico in this tournament played that way except Jamaica.
Those were meaningless friendly matches, they’re not important enough to park the bus
Are we talking about friendly victories again? Because Miguel Herrera has yet to play an official game against Klinsmann. They’ve played two friendlies so far and we lined up a good amount of players that will be at the Confeds Cup playoff in October while Mexico didn’t. We have yet to face a Mexican team with their best players available. Everyone should be worried because in one off games, Mexico has been better than the US. 2002 WC Rd of 16 aside, of course.
Concacaf better hope the US doesn’t find a manager that knows what he’s doing.
Klinsmann does know what he’s doing. It’s just that the usmnt is very untalented.
Guardado is simply amazing, no surprise PSV fans love him so much.
Best player in the region right now imo. Would love to have a player like that on our team.
Yeah, I was impressed with him and Jesus Corona. The only real bright spots for a team that didn’t deserve to be there. As much as I can’t stand Mexico, I would love to see them in MLS.
Another bright spot is that Mexico is 7 times Gold Cup Champions to 5 USMNT. We are never catching up to El Tri.
With Klinsmann at the Helm…lol, never
Shut up you prick!!!! Go back to fruit farm
“we”?… pretty sure you’ve shown your allegiance and it’s NOT with the USMNT…
Does anyone know where they are playing the playoff match?
Word is the Rose Bowl
gosh I hope not. 70/30 pro Mexico crowd there, minimum
LA times and SI.com announcing that it is
Congrats…..that’s a team, that simply just knows how to win.
You mean like they knew how to win against Costa Rica and a 10 Man Panama? Give mne a break.
^^^^ this. MX is a team that knows how to accept referee gifts. Should’ve been knocked out in the quarters.
Mexico wasn’t gifted anything from refs. The calls were legit.
Then you do not have a brain
and the “Mano de Dios” wasn’t a handball either, right?…
So, how was Jamaica and Panama gifted against the USMNT? They lost and were humiliated fair and square on the pitch at home.
US were poor all tournament but at least we lost honestly. We didn’t have the luxury of phantom penalties against either of those teams when they were needed
Yes, they knew how to beat them and did it.
Sure……Who are the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions?
Better yet who beat the team that beat us?
but I’ll give you a break……
Sometimes the missing ingredient is knowing HOW to win
Mexico was gifted a ticket to the final without question. Mexico should have not even been in the final as they have played terrible and now play a Jamaican side that got very lucky to beat the U.S. thanks to Klinsi’s line-up and overall roster selection for this Gold Cup. Now the U.S. will probably play a Mexican side that is healthy in October. Klini better bring in J. Jones, Brek Shea and Jordan Morris if healthy along with Danny Williams, Bobby Wood ( if in form) and others who were a big part in the wins against Germany and the Netherlands. And put the correct “D” out there for Pete’s sake, Klini!!! Do that and the U.S. will win the one game playoff game at home.
That Mexico team beat the same Jamaica squad that ran circles around the U.S. They didn’t look to be playing terrible football tonight.
Yea and the same US squad beat Guatemala 4-0 whereas Mexico tied 0-0 with them. These score do not mean anything. The US losing to Jamaica was an aberration even though they played badly; Mexico playing well today was an aberration. As a matter of fact, they did not even play well. The U.S. will book their ticket in that one game playoff to the Confederation’s Cup whether you like it or not.
Just like they were a shoe-in for a repeat Gold Cup. Keep dreaming.
Are you talking about the same Guatemala that actually tried to play the U.S toe toe toe but parked the bus, station wagon, sedan, and whatever else could shield them from Mexico’s attack. Plus there was a clear ball in the box that a Guatemala player swatted down that wasn’t called. Is that the Guatemala your talking about?
Go choke on a Mexican fish taco and read the guys post again, moron!!!!!!!!! You guys will always smell like rotten fish. False pride is showing when you are gifted. Mexico is like the WWE champs, ALL fixed.
You’re completely wrong again, friendlies are completely different from official games. The usmnt losing to Jamaica was NOT an aberration. The usmnt IS INFERIOR, Jamaica proved that. Mexico will book their ticket in that one game playoff to the Confederation’s Cup, you are wrong again.
These scores mean everything, it’s the Confederation Championship. Friendlies mean nothing. The usmnt is the 4th best team in this confederation. Deal with it.
Didn’t Mexico’s Copa America team smash Guatemala in a friendly just a month ago? So we beat Guatemala in a friendly as well and there is supposed to be some correlation from friendly games to official Gold Cup games? Slinging sh*t at Mexico is always one of our favorite pastimes but when it isn’t backed by results on the field, it is simply sour grapes. Take a bow son, you’ve earned it.
You are a complete moron. Read what the guy said. He is actually saying that the scores with other teams do not matter. It was you who assumes that Mexico is better because they beat Jamaica. That does not mean a thing. The fact here is that Mexico was given the Gold Cup o a Golden platter. Go back to your hole!!!!.
What game were you watching that Jamaica ran circles around the US?
Jamaica destroyed the USMNT at home to the point the USMNT resorted to launching balls to the box in the hopes of a lucky break because they had just run out of ideas and were being dominated by the speed and athleticism of the Jamaicans. Jahman.
Actually the US had 60% of the possession , you moronic prick.
Your post is completely wrong. Mexico was not gifted a ticket to the Final, they earned it. Jamaica did not get lucky when they beat the usmnt, Jamaica are superior to the usmnt.
If Klinsy does what you say, the usmnt will still lose that CC playoff. The usmnt were gifted a berth to that by winning a B-team tournament, while Mexico won the A-team edition. They shouldn’t be in that game.
“The usmnt were gifted a berth to that by winning a B-team tournament, while Mexico won the A-team edition. They shouldn’t be in that game.”
just trying to clarify here, so the 2013 Gold Cup was a “B team tourney” yet the 2015 Gold Cup was an “A team tourney”? I must have missed that announcement.
Good game. And great goal by Guardado.
congratulations Panama, you’ve earned this Gold cup.
No matter how you slice it, Mexico is the best team in CONCACAF.
Looking forward to October and we will see if that statement still stands.
No matter how you slice it, this playoff of US vs Mex for the Confederations spot, taking place in the ROSE BOWL, was always going to take place. That was the plan.
Do we really think that the Rose Bowl would be even 3/4 full for a US vs. Jamaica or anyone else other than Mexico?
No matter how you slice it, this tournament showed us that the US and Mexico are not as dominant in the region as we thought. They will both continue to win in qualifying because they rise above through consistency. (Although, Mexico didnt show that last go round, did they?) Your realize that if they were playing by the rules a couple of WC cycles ago, Mexico would not have qualified for WC ’14?
In reality, the US got really unlucky vs Jamaica. Don’t get me wrong, the US was off all tournament and we know about all of the let downs. But those two goals by Jamaica were freaky. (Great free kick but the call was freaky). If you watched that game, without watching the goals, for most of 75 minutes of the game, you would have thought we would have won 2-1. Point is that the US has played worse and win most of the time against CONCACAF.
On the flip side, Mexico got extremely lucky (although most think there was scheming here) TWICE in two games.
It could of easily been US vs Panama in the final.
So for now, go ahead and bask in the Gold Cup glory. Enjoy, I do not blame you. But the real final is in October.
Personally, I love a confident Mexico and the US being the underdog.
The US team is at their best then…..