Reggae Boyz Hold the US to a Draw in Gold Cup Opener
Jamaica head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson extends winless run to seven games
Leon Bailey’s failure to slot home Jamaica’s first-half penalty cost the Reggae Boyz dearly, as they settled for a 1-1 stalemate in the marquee CONCACAF Gold Cup opening game against the US last night (24 June).
Heimir Hallgrimsson came perilously close to finally securing his first victory as Jamaica head coach, only for substitute Brandon Vazquez to bag a last-gasp equaliser and cancel out Damion Lowe’s 13th-minute header.
Seven-time Gold Cup champions US have rocked up at the prestigious event with only five players involved in capturing the Nations League last week. In contrast Jamaica arrived on the back of a dismal six-match winless streak since Hallgrimsson joined and were eager to stop the rot.
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After Mexico axed their head coach Diego Cocco after seven matches last week, the pressure was piling up on Hallgrimsson. The Icelandic has been widely criticised for overlooking players from the Jamaica Premier League for their Gold Cup campaign.
Hallgrimsson has put his faith in a dozen UK-based players, and had Bailey managed to score his spot-kick then the head coach may well have been labelled a tactical genius.
The United States, unbeaten in six games and seemingly scoring for fun, were missing top talents like Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna with young guns like Cade Cowell, Jesus Ferreira and Vazquez given centre stage as interim head coach B.J.Callaghan handed half-a-dozen players their debut.
The US kicked off their Gold Cup defence inside a fully charged and expectant Soldier Field in Chicago, with the first piece of action Lowe’s second-minute yellow card for a clumsy challenge on James Sands.
Jamaica pressured the hosts in the early stages, but skipper Andre Blake got an early touch of the ball when easily catching Alan Sonora’s ambitious attempt.
Thirteen became an unlucky number for the hosts when Jamaica’s dream start resulted in a well-executed breakthrough. Debutant Demarai Gray whipped in a long-range free kick, which was wonderfully guided by Lowe’s diving header past stunned keeper Matt Turner.
It seemed ironic that a defender ended Jamaica’s unwanted run of 227 minutes without a Gold Cup goal when Hallgrimsson had selected a staggering eight strikers in his 23-player squad. Home fans were displeased by the strike, with boos ringing around the stadium.
The US, who had defeated Jamaica in the knockout rounds at the past two Gold Cup finals, were kept on the backfoot. They were afforded possession by Hallgrimsson’s tactics but struggled to penetrate the midfield.
It became a desperate scramble to try to notch an equaliser, with John Tolkin skying over his attempt before Alan Sonora once again wasted his close-range opportunity from a set piece.
Then the drama set in. Aidan Morris blatantly fouled Kevon Lambert from a scrambled long throw on 27 minutes, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Turner, sporting the captain’s armband for the first time and on his 29th birthday, was celebrating after his diving save to his left denied Bailey. The forward somehow scuffed the rebound wide of the target.
This let off re-energised the US players and fans alike only for Ferreira, Sonara and DeAndre Yedlin to waste their opportunities.
With the interval approaching, the Boyz were grateful that the referee didn’t brandish a second yellow on Lowe who caught Jordan Morris.
The same player was proving tricky in the area, and on the cusp of the half-time whistle was only denied by brilliant shot-stopping from Blake.
After the turnaround the contest was totally bossed by the US, who dominated possession and pressed high in a bid for a leveller.
Jamaica were second best, struggling to build up apart from one chance on the half-hour mark. Michail Antonio was driving forward into the ball but Jalen Neal halted his surge, and the Boyz appealed for a penalty even though it hit the youngster’s midsection.
Amari’i Bell was stretched off on 65 minutes, replaced by Kemar Lawrence. This will be worrying for Hallgrimsson with group games against Trinidad & Tobago then St. Kitts & Nevis coming up.
US substitute Cristian Roldan was denied by a reaction save from Blake with 20 minutes remaining, and Bailey thrilled the crowd with an outrageous piece of skill despite being pinned in his own corner. The whizzy winger nutmegged a pair of opponents, which eventually drew a foul to hand the Boyz some relief after coming under intense pressure.
The US, who had last trailed in a Gold Cup group game against Panama in 2015, were in no mood to surrender and had restricted Jamaica to no shots on target after the turnaround.
Callaghan threw on fresh legs as a last ditch resort as the US has a remarkable record of scoring late goals, either grabbing a winner or an equaliser from the 83rd minute.
His ploy worked wonders, with Vazquez gifted a glorious chance when a loose ball dropped at his feet from Ferreira’s cross. He made no mistake to find the back of the net on 88 minutes, which sent the majority of the supporters crazy with excitement.
Only a sensational additional time save from Blake, to deny Jordan Morris, earned Jamaica a share of the spoils from their Group A contest that at least gives Hallgrimsson more breathing space.
Jamaica, twice finalists in the Gold Cup, have struggled in games against the US in this tournament although this was the first time the Boyz have tackled what is effectively their B-team.
It will be back to the drawing board for Hallgrimsson when he faces Caribbean opponents in back-to-back matches, and will be desperately seeking to find more goals from open play.
Having failed to register a single win in his seven outings, Hallgrimsson has a golden opportunity to improve his dire record when tackling Angus Eve’s Trinidad & Tobago and preliminary round qualifiers St. Kitts & Nevis.
The Soca Warriors, who twice outplayed Jamaica in March’s friendlies, are Jamaica’s opponents at CITYPARK in St. Louis on 28 June. Austin Huggins’ Sugar Boyz, who stunned Curacao and French Guiana to reach the group stages for the first time, meet the Boyz in Santa Clara on 2 July.
JAMAICA | Blake – Bell (Lawrence, 65), Mariappa, Lowe, Lembikisa – Gray (Johnson, 90) Latibeaudiere, Lambert, Decordova-Reid – Antonio (Burke, 75), Bailey (Nicholson, 90). Subs: Bernard, Boyce-Clarke, Richards, Parris, Brown, Russell, Waite
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