U.S. Men’s National Team Clashes With Jamaica In 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinal

Match Preview
 

USA Looks for Berth in Record 11th Gold Cup Final on Wednesday;

Kickoff From Nashville’s Nissan Stadium is Set for 9:30 p.m. ET on FS1, Univision, UDN

and the Futbol de Primera Radio Networks



CHICAGO (July 2, 2019) – Coming off four matches in which the side has outscored opponents 12-0, the U.S. Men’s National Team takes on familiar foe Jamaica in the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinal on Wednesday, July 3 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Coverage of USA-Jamaica begins at 9:30 p.m. ET on FS1, Univision, UDN and the Futbol de Primera Radio Networks.
Fans can follow all the matches on the official U.S. Soccer app, as well as Facebook, Twitter (@USMNT) and Instagram (@USMNT) accounts.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals):

GOALKEEPERS (3): 12-Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 8/0), 22-Tyler Miller (LAFC; 0/0), 1-Zack Steffen (Manchester City/ENG; 13/0)
 
DEFENDERS (8): 14-Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas; 4/0), 3-Omar Gonzalez (Toronto FC/CAN; 52/3), 2-Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 7/0), 23-Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 9/2), 16-Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact/CAN; 6/0), 19-Matt Miazga (Chelsea/ENG; 15/1), 13-Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 33/1), 5-Walker Zimmerman (LAFC; 10/2)
 
MIDFIELDERS (6): 4-Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 148/17), 8-Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 12/2), 20-Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire; 5/1), 10-Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 29/11), 15-Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 13/0), 6-Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 19/0)
 
FORWARDS (6): 17-Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 113/42), 7-Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 26/5), 21-Tyler Boyd (Vitória Guimãres/POR; 5/2), 18-Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; 5/0), 11-Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 31/5), 9-Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 49/10)

USA GRINDS OUT 1-0 VICTORY VS. CURAÇAO TO ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS

In a tightly contested quarterfinal the USMNT utilized Christian Pulisic’s well-worked cross to Weston McKennie in the 25th minute and staunch defending to grind out a 1-0 victory against Curaçao on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Playing not far from his hometown of Downingtown, Pa., Zack Steffen made five saves to earn Budweiser Man of the Match honors, combining with the back line for the team’s fourth consecutive shutout. With the win, the USA moved to 10-0-1 all-time in Gold Cup Quarterfinal matches and 25-7-5 in Knockout Round games in the tournament. 

SHINING DEFENSIVE PROWESS

While the USA began the tournament with big wins against Guyana (4-0) and Trinidad & Tobago (6-0), the team’s defensive strength has shined in the last two matches, both 1-0 wins against Panama and Curaçao. The USA is the only side out of the tournament’s 16 participants not to concede a goal, while the four-straight clean sheets tied the USMNT record set in 2002 for most consecutive shutouts at the Gold Cup. The combination of goalkeeper Zack Steffen and the back line of Nick Lima, Walker Zimmerman, Aaron Long and Tim Ream have combined for three of the team’s four shutouts, while overall the USA hasn’t conceded a goal since the June 9 friendly against Venezuela, a stretch that spans 414 minutes of play. 

FAMILIAR WITH JAMAICA

Wednesday’s semifinal marks the third straight Concacaf Gold Cup where the USA will meet Jamaica in the Knockout Round. In 2015, the Reggae Boyz pulled off a 2-1 semifinal upset of the USA at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta to advance to their first Gold Cup Final. Two years later, they returned to the championship match but fell 2-1 as the USMNT raised its sixth confederation championship trophy on July 26, 2017 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. 
 
The teams also met less than a month ago in a Gold Cup tune-up, with Shamar Nicholson’s strike from distance serving as the difference in Jamaica’s 1-0 victory on June 5 at Audi Field. 

RULES FOR THE KNOCKOUT ROUND

Knockout Round matches that are tied after minutes will require 30 minutes of extra time where teams will also be allowed a fourth substitution. Should games remain tied following extra time, a penalty kick shootout will decide the team that moves on. 

WHAT IS THE CONCACAF GOLD CUP?

Held every two years, the Gold Cup is the regional championship for Concacaf, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football. Just like in the European Championships and Copa America, lifting the trophy brings prestige and regional supremacy. Over the course of 14 previous Gold Cup tournaments, the United States has lifted the trophy six times (1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017), just one behind all-time leaders Mexico with seven (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015). Canada is the only other tournament champion, coming away with the title in 2000.


USA TOURNAMENT NOTES

  • Sunday’s win against Curaçao set a new USMNT record for consecutive wins at the Concacaf Gold Cup with nine (July 12, 2017-June 30, 2019). 

  • With a fourth straight clean sheet against Curaçao, the team tied the USA record for most consecutive shutouts in a single Gold Cup tournament, a feat previously achieved in the 2002 edition. 

  • Zack Steffen and the back line of Nick Lima, Aaron Long, Walker Zimmerman and Tim Ream have yet to concede a goal in 270 minutes (three games) on the field together during the 2019 Gold Cup. 

  • Weston McKennie’s 25th minute goal against Curaçao was the second of his international career and first in Gold Cup play. 

  • Christian Pulisic registered his ninth career assist on McKennie’s goal and moves into a tie with Canada’s Alphonso Davies for the tournament lead with three.  

  • The USA’s 12 goals have come through seven different players: Zardes (3), Arriola, Boyd and Long (2 each), Altidore, McKennie and Pulisic (1 each). 

  • Six different players have provided assists: Pulisic (3), Morris (2), Arriola, Bradley, Lima and McKennie (1 each). 

  • Through four matches, 22 players have started at least one game. Only goalkeeper Tyler Miller has yet to make an appearance in the tournament. 

  • Arriola and Zardes jointly lead the team with nine appearances in 2019. 

  • Playing his first minutes of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, Jordan Morris made a positive impact off the bench, providing two assists in the 6-0 win against T&T. 

USA ROSTER NOTES:  

  • As of June 18, 2019, the U.S. roster has an average age of 25 years, 251 days and 24 caps. 

  • Ten players on the roster have previous Gold Cup experience, led by Michael Bradley (4 tournaments), Jozy Altidore, Omar Gonzalez and Sean Johnson (3), Tim Ream and Gyasi Zardes (2), and Paul Arriola, Matt Miazga Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan (1)

  • Of the 10 players above, only Tim Ream was not part of the 2017 Gold Cup championship squad. 

  • A majority of the roster comes from Major League Soccer, with 17 players representing 12 clubs.

  • Six players come from clubs outside of MLS, with four from England, and one each from Germany and Portugal

  • Along with most tournament’s played, Bradley leads all players on the roster with 23 Gold Cup appearances, followed by Zardes (14), Altidore and Gonzalez (11 each), Jordan Morris (9) and Paul Arriola (8). 

  • Nine players on the roster have registered goals in the Gold Cup: Altidore (5), Zardes (4), Bradley, Gonzalez and Morris (3 each), Arriola, Boyd and Long (2 each), Miazga, McKennie and Pulisic (1 each). 

  • LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller is the only player on the Gold Cup roster looking for his USMNT debut. 

  • Only five players were born when the USA won the inaugural Gold Cup title in 1991: Altidore, Bradley, Gonzalez Johnson and Ream


USMNT IN THE GOLD CUP
  • Beginning with the inaugural title in 1991, the U.S. has lifted the Gold Cup on six occasions. The USA returned the trophy home in 2002 and won again in 2005, 2007, 2013 and 2017. 

  • The USA has more wins in the Concacaf Gold Cup than any other nation, going 60-8-9 all-time.

  • The U.S. has gone an impressive 36-1-4 during the Group Stage.

  • The USMNT has advanced to the final on 10 occasions: 1991, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2017. 

  • The USA has made it to the semifinals in 14 out of 15 tournaments, holding a 9-3-1 record at this stage.  

USA-JAMAICA NOTES

  • Since first meeting in 1988, the teams have faced each other 25 times with the USMNT holding a 15-3-8 overall advantage and 4-0-1 edge in Gold Cup play. 

  • The sides met just prior to this year’s Gold Cup, with Jamaica taking a 1-0 victory thanks to a 60th minute strike from Shamar Nicholson. 

  • This is the third-straight Gold Cup in which the teams will meet in the Knockout Round, and fourth occurrence in the last five editions of the tournament.  

  • The last Gold Cup meeting came in the 2017 edition, when goals from Jozy Altidore and Jordan Morris helped the USA claim its sixth confederation title on July 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, Calif.

  • Two years prior, Jamaica upset the USA 2-1 in the semifinal on July 22, 2015 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. 

  • The USA is 3-2-1 all-time at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium and last earned a 1-0 win against Mexico on Sept. 11, 2018. 

JAMAICA ROSTER

 
GOALKEEPERS (3): Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union/USA), Amal Knight (UWI), Dwayne Miller (Syrianska/SWE)
 
DEFENDERS (7): Shaun Francis (Louisville City FC/USA), Michael Hector (Sheffield Wednesday/ENG), Kevon Lambert (Phoenix Rising/USA), Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls/USA), Damion Lowe (IK Start/NOR), Alvas Powell (FC Cincinnati/USA), Jamoi Topey (Bethlehem Steel/USA)
 
MIDFIELDERS (7): Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Andre Lewis (Portmore United), Tyreek Magee (Harbor View), Ricardo Morris (Portmore United), Peter-Lee Vassel (LAFC/USA), Devon Williams (Louisville City FC/USA), Je-Vaughn Watson (OKC Energy FC/USA)
 
FORWARDS (5): Brian Brown (FC Reno/USA), Junior Flemmings (Phoenix Rising/USA), Maalique Foster (RVG Toros FC/USA), Darren Mattocks (FC Cincinnati/USA), Shamar Nicholson (Domzale/SVN), Dever Orgill (An

IN FOCUS: JAMAICA 

  • The Reggae Boyz are coached by Theodore Whitmore. Part of Jamaica’s 1998 FIFA World Cup team, Whitmore earned 120 caps and scored 24 goals in an international career that ran from 1993-2004.

  • HOW THEY GOT HERE: 3-2 W vs. Honduras (June 17; group stage), 0-0 D vs. El Salvador (June 21; group stage), 1-1 D vs. Curaçao (June 25; group stage), 1-0 W vs. Panama (June 30; quarterfinal)

  • Jamaica advanced to the Gold Cup semifinals for the third straight tournament and fifth time overall. 

  • After accumulating two yellow cards, Damion Lowe is suspended for the semifinal.

  • Thirteen players on the roster are based in the United States, with five in MLS and eight in USL. 

  • Leading the way are goalkeeper Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union); defenders Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls) and Alvas Powell (FC Cincinnati); midfielder Peter Vassel (LAFC) and forward Darren Mattocks (FC Cincinnati).

  • Devor Orgill leads Jamaica with two goals at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, followed by Damion Lowe, Darren Mattocks and Shamar Nicholson who each have a goal apiece. 

 

2019 Concacaf Gold Cup Bracket