This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jul/22/gold-cup-semi-final-usa-jamaica-live
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gold Cup semi-final: USA v Jamaica – live! | Gold Cup semi-final: USA v Jamaica – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.19pm ET23:19 | |
| 13 min: Bradley’s cross is headed away. Then Dempsey has a go from the opposite flank, but it’s claimed by Thompson. | |
| 6.18pm ET23:18 | |
| 12 min: Well, we picked out Mattocks as one to watch, but that was a chance missed: McCleary did ever so well to cut in from the right and breeze past Beckerman, and he fed Mattocks, but the striker’s touch was poor, and he took far too long, allowing USA to recover. Then Watson blams one from distance, but it’s wide. | |
| 6.16pm ET23:16 | |
| 10 min: Nice touch from Bradley, but Lawrence does well to nip in and steal it. Jamaica have started to play after an iffy opening few minutes. | |
| “Every time I played against them, Jamaica were a very difficult opponent,” says Friedel on commentary. | |
| 6.14pm ET23:14 | |
| 7 min: Kemar Lawrence with the set piece, but it’s hit into the wall, and loops up, and it’s a foul on Guzan. Schafer’s look is one of irritation, disgust and contempt. A total waste. | |
| 6.13pm ET23:13 | |
| 6 min: Morgan looks for Mattocks over the top, and Brooks took an awkward touch, although I think that was the pitch more than anything. Now Austin is tripped by Beckerman right on the edge of the box. A clear trip, and a dangerous position for Jamaica. | |
| 6.10pm ET23:10 | |
| 4 min: Shot of Winfried Schafer on the bench, looking, with his long white hair and steel-rimmed spectacles, like the eccentric chief executive of a Silicon Valley behemoth. Bedoya does well down the left, but Ryan Thompson claims. USA, unusually, have started brightly. | |
| 6.08pm ET23:08 | |
| 2 min: But that’s a cheap corner to give away from Jamaica. Chance early for USA, but Austin heads away well. The ball is definitely rolling funny on this surface. | |
| 6.07pm ET23:07 | |
| 1 min: And we’re off! And immediately USA belt it into touch. Groan. | |
| 6.06pm ET23:06 | |
| A bit more info on that Jamaican lineup: they go 4-4-2, with Barnes and Mattocks up front. Brad Friedel reckons they’ll try to defend deep and counter-attack. “Wes Morgan is going to be so important.” | |
| Julie Stewart-Binks has some information on the field at the Georgia Dome. Basically, it’s crap, and Winfried Schafer is not happy. | |
| 6.03pm ET23:03 | |
| OK, that’s the anthems done. Nicely. We’re minutes away. | |
| 6.00pm ET23:00 | |
| The players are emerging from the tunnel. USA all in white, Jamaica in green jerseys with yellow shorts. It’s steamy in Atlanta. | |
| My hot take: Jamaica look taller. | |
| Updated at 6.01pm ET | |
| 5.57pm ET22:57 | |
| Here’s tonight’s heated debate: should Howard come back and get the goalkeeper’s jersey? Text me, email me, any way you want me! As long as you love me, it’s all right. | |
| 5.54pm ET22:54 | |
| Six minutes to go! Although with the Gold Cup, the kick off time is merely a suggestion. I’d bet hundreds and thousands of dollars we’re late. | |
| 5.53pm ET22:53 | |
| Alexi Lalas on Fox reckons USA will be OK if Guzan continues in goal, but Warren Barton talks of Guzan’s “big blunders” and remembers Howard’s performance against Belgium last year. | |
| “Some of them saves was remarkable,” opines Barton. Yep! Them really was. | |
| 5.49pm ET22:49 | |
| Fox are showing a little segment about goalkeeping, with advice from Brads Guzan and Friedel, Tony Meola, William Yarbrough, Nick Rimando et al. “People used to say you have to be a bit thick to be a goalkeeper,” grins Friedel. Never! | |
| And on that very topic, Tim Howard announced today that he’s ready to return for the US team, after a break and some R&R. But is Jürgen Klinsmann ready for him? | |
| 5.45pm ET22:45 | 5.45pm ET22:45 |
| Last week, Michael Bradley let slip his true feelings on the Gold Cup: | Last week, Michael Bradley let slip his true feelings on the Gold Cup: |
| “I say this with total endearment: It’s a ridiculous tournament.” | “I say this with total endearment: It’s a ridiculous tournament.” |
| Ha! I mean, he’s right: there’s lots to enjoy in this competition, but the scheduling, the facilities, the pitches, the travel … all ludicrous. Grass laid atop artificial turf, matches played in baking, 100F-plus temperatures, all in the middle of the MLS season. Still, if USA win tonight they’ll be in another final, and they’ll qualify automatically for the 2017 Confederations Cup. | Ha! I mean, he’s right: there’s lots to enjoy in this competition, but the scheduling, the facilities, the pitches, the travel … all ludicrous. Grass laid atop artificial turf, matches played in baking, 100F-plus temperatures, all in the middle of the MLS season. Still, if USA win tonight they’ll be in another final, and they’ll qualify automatically for the 2017 Confederations Cup. |
| Incidentally, Mexico take on Panama at 9pm ET in the very same stadium in Atlanta. USA the warm-up act, Mexico the main event. Joke! | Incidentally, Mexico take on Panama at 9pm ET in the very same stadium in Atlanta. USA the warm-up act, Mexico the main event. Joke! |
| 5.38pm ET22:38 | 5.38pm ET22:38 |
| Things We Like, No 755 in a never-ending series: Aron Johannsson and Clint Dempsey in attack. The pair have forged an effective partnership in Jozy Altidore’s absence, and Deuce has six Gold Cup goals already: he leads the top scorers in this tournament. But Johannsson’s been great, too. Here’s Jack Kerr on the Icelander born in Alabama: | Things We Like, No 755 in a never-ending series: Aron Johannsson and Clint Dempsey in attack. The pair have forged an effective partnership in Jozy Altidore’s absence, and Deuce has six Gold Cup goals already: he leads the top scorers in this tournament. But Johannsson’s been great, too. Here’s Jack Kerr on the Icelander born in Alabama: |
| Related: Aron Jóhannsson on the Gold Cup: 'It's up to us to prove we can win it' | Related: Aron Jóhannsson on the Gold Cup: 'It's up to us to prove we can win it' |
| 5.34pm ET22:34 | 5.34pm ET22:34 |
| Some British interest in that Jamaica lineup: McAnuff, Morgan, Mariappa, McCleary, Barnes – all familiar to fans of the Premier League and Championship, past and present. And in Darren Mattocks of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Jamaica have got a real speedster. America’s back line better beware. | Some British interest in that Jamaica lineup: McAnuff, Morgan, Mariappa, McCleary, Barnes – all familiar to fans of the Premier League and Championship, past and present. And in Darren Mattocks of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Jamaica have got a real speedster. America’s back line better beware. |
| Updated at 5.35pm ET | Updated at 5.35pm ET |
| 5.32pm ET22:32 | 5.32pm ET22:32 |
| US Soccer never publish the lineups of the opponent: it’s such bad form, and it annoys me. I’m like a hot kettle! Anyway, here’s Jeff Carlisle with the Jamaica lineup: | US Soccer never publish the lineups of the opponent: it’s such bad form, and it annoys me. I’m like a hot kettle! Anyway, here’s Jeff Carlisle with the Jamaica lineup: |
| Jamaica lineup vs. #usmnt: Thompson; Lawrence, Hector, Morgan, Mariappa; McAnuff, Watson, Austin, McCleary; Mattocks, Barnes | Jamaica lineup vs. #usmnt: Thompson; Lawrence, Hector, Morgan, Mariappa; McAnuff, Watson, Austin, McCleary; Mattocks, Barnes |
| 5.31pm ET22:31 | 5.31pm ET22:31 |
| So two changes from the side that beat Cuba: Omar Gonzalez makes way for John Brooks, who comes back after suspension, and Brad Evans replaces Timmy Chandler at right-back. | So two changes from the side that beat Cuba: Omar Gonzalez makes way for John Brooks, who comes back after suspension, and Brad Evans replaces Timmy Chandler at right-back. |
| 5.30pm ET22:30 | 5.30pm ET22:30 |
| Here’s the US lineup: | Here’s the US lineup: |
| #USMNT Starting XI vs. Jamaica (4-2-3-1): Guzan; Evans, Alvarado, Brooks, Johnson; Bradley, Beckerman; Zardes, Dempsey, Bedoya; Johannsson | #USMNT Starting XI vs. Jamaica (4-2-3-1): Guzan; Evans, Alvarado, Brooks, Johnson; Bradley, Beckerman; Zardes, Dempsey, Bedoya; Johannsson |
| 5.29pm ET22:29 | 5.29pm ET22:29 |
| Hello and welcome | Hello and welcome |
| Like Michael Johnson, Donovan Bailey and Naim Suleymanoglu in 1996, USA and Jamaica are going for gold in Atlanta. The USMNT play the Reggae Boyz in the first Gold Cup semi-final: for USA, it’s the chance to make yet another final, and for Jamaica, it’s the chance to make history. The Jamaicans have never been to a Gold Cup final; the USA have been in the past five (and have won three of them). Jürgen Klinsmann’s men are hot favourites, Jamaica are the underdogs, but this is football – bloody hell! – and nothing’s guaranteed. Should be a cracker: kick off is 6pm ET, and you should come and join the fun. | Like Michael Johnson, Donovan Bailey and Naim Suleymanoglu in 1996, USA and Jamaica are going for gold in Atlanta. The USMNT play the Reggae Boyz in the first Gold Cup semi-final: for USA, it’s the chance to make yet another final, and for Jamaica, it’s the chance to make history. The Jamaicans have never been to a Gold Cup final; the USA have been in the past five (and have won three of them). Jürgen Klinsmann’s men are hot favourites, Jamaica are the underdogs, but this is football – bloody hell! – and nothing’s guaranteed. Should be a cracker: kick off is 6pm ET, and you should come and join the fun. |
| 5.00pm ET22:00 | 5.00pm ET22:00 |
| Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s why Concacaf is expecting a USA v Mexico final: | Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s why Concacaf is expecting a USA v Mexico final: |
| Though both teams have failed to impress, it seems that the inevitability of a USA-Mexico final is all but upon us, with both teams just one victory away from the final in Philadelphia. | Though both teams have failed to impress, it seems that the inevitability of a USA-Mexico final is all but upon us, with both teams just one victory away from the final in Philadelphia. |
| But as the semi-finals get under way on Wednesday, both USA and Mexico should be wary of their opponents, two sides that have earned their way to this stage thanks to some dogged performances. | But as the semi-finals get under way on Wednesday, both USA and Mexico should be wary of their opponents, two sides that have earned their way to this stage thanks to some dogged performances. |
| Related: USA and Mexico a game away from Gold Cup final – but beware the underdogs | Related: USA and Mexico a game away from Gold Cup final – but beware the underdogs |