These Reggae Boyz have a chance to make history after beating Mexico on Sunday night in the 88th minute of a hard fought battle 1-0. In what is seen as a significant upset the Jamaican team now has a chance to make history.
Kemar Lawrence penetrated Mexico's five-man wall and ran into the top corner for one of the biggest goals in Jamaican soccer history, the defender hushed his teammates and refused to celebrate. Keeping their focus and cool was an important theme for the entire tight.
It's been a long rivalry with Jamaica and Mexico. Mexico beat Jamaica in the 2015 Gold Cup final, and El Tri also defeated the Reggae Boyz 2-0 at the Rose Bowl just 13 months ago during the Copa America.
Now, Jamaica finally got one back, beating Mexico for the first time in the teams' eight Gold Cup meetings.
Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake kept this game scoreless with a series of impressive saves while Mexico dominated possession with a lineup missing most of El Tri's most-accomplished players.
Blake made two brilliant saves in succession in the 12th minute, diving twice to stop close-range chances by Jesus Duenas and Erick Torres, the Houston Dynamo star and the only player on the current roster from outside Mexico's domestic leagues.
Blake did it again in the 25th minute, stopping Torres' point-blank header from the top of the 6-yard box with improbably quick reactions.
Jamaica will face the United States on Wednesday night at Santa Clara, California. If successful, the Reggae Boyz would claim their first championship in soccer's North and Central American and Caribbean region.
The Reggae Boyz have reached the final for the second straight Gold Cup, but this stunning upset at the Rose Bowl ranks among their biggest international wins. Mexico has won seven Gold Cup titles, the U.S. five and Canada one.
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