USA 2-1 Jamaica
Football games such as these have become a tradition for the United States faithful. The USMNT have been performing well over the past couple of years, gaining the attention of football fans and live betting vets from across the world.
They came into this final against Jamaica as slight favourites for good reason: Andre Blake is easily the man of the tournament for many neutrals. The MLS star’s fantastic saves against Mexico inspired a tough Jamaica backline, securing better betting odds from bookies and favourable opinions from fans.
The game started close, with neither nation gaining a definite edge throughout the first half. Bruce Arena and Theo Whitmore fielded their squads in a balanced 4-4-2, making attack difficult for both sides.
It took the United States the entire first half to find the goal that put them ahead of the Reggae Boyz. Josmer Altidore fired a bullet of a free kick towards the top left corner of the goal to put the Stars and Stripes ahead. Blake managed to reach the ball but wasn’t able to stop the powerful strike of the Toronto attacker.
Jamaica was soon able to even the score early in the second half. Kemar Lawrence launched a corner kick from the left to the opposite side of the pitch, finding Je-Vaughn Watson for the point-blank goal. Tim Howard was barely able to do anything after the New England defender powered it through.
Fans hoped for a late miracle to avoid the tense drama of extra time and penalties, but both Blake and Howard made it hard for either side to score. They both made fantastic saves that prevented a dire situation for their teams.
Jordan Morris became the hero of an entire nation in the game’s dying minutes. During a scramble in Jamaica’s danger zone, the ball fell onto the feet of the young Seattle Sounder. He immediately powered it home on the first touch, beating Blake. He sent the entire 63,032-strong crowd at Levi’s Stadium in a big frenzy.
This win is an important one for the United States: not only do they secure their sixth Gold Cup, they continue their red-hot form under Arena. They gain a whole new level of confidence that will help them secure their ticket to the World Cup.
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