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U.S. Wins Gold Cup on Late Goal

The United States claimed their first CONCACAF Gold Cup title since 2013 on the back of a late Jordan Morris goal, which sealed a 2-1 win over Jamaica in Wednesday’s tournament final at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

In the waning stages of a 1-1 match, Morris ripped a loose ball amid a scramble that found the back of the net in the 89th minute.

Jozy Altidore opened the scoring the 45th minute when drilled a free kick from distance to beat backup keeper Dwayne Miller. It was Altidore’s second goal in as many matches after he scored the opener in Saturday’s semifinal against Costa Rica.

Miller was in the net after former UConn keeper Andre Blake, one of the driving forces behind Jamaica’s shock run to the final, was felled by a finger injury in the 20th minute. The injury occurred after Kellyn Acosta collided with Blake on a loose ball in the box.

But the Reggae Boyz responded in the 50th minute when – who else? – Revolution defender/midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson lashed a Kemar Lawrence corner kick through to stun the Santa Clara crowd.

Paul Arriola found a chance to score the decider on a free header in the 63rd minute, but couldn’t get enough power on it to beat Miller, who coolly collected it. Not long after, Morris tested Miller with a hard drive from 12 yard that was parried over the bar in the 73rd minute.

But Jamaica nearly caught the U.S. on the counter when Oniel Fisher crossed it for Alvas Powell, who’s redirection came tantalizingly close to landing in the net in the 74th minute.

Miller yet another save, this time on Clint Dempsey, whose shot slipped through the grasp of the Jamaican keeper before it glanced off the near post in the 76th minute.

With full time looming, Morris rose to the occasion when he fired a shot that beat Miller to the right post, putting his squad on top with little time left for a response.

The U.S.’s tournament hopes were aided by a pair of Revolution products. Kelyn Rowe scored and assisted during the Group stages before he was released from camp while Juan Agudelo earned a start vs. Martinique and remained on the roster through the final.

Wednesday’s win gave the U.S. its sixth Gold Cup title, one behind Mexico for tops all-time. Jamaica’s runner-up finish was its second straight after failing to reach the final before 2013.

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