An 88th-minute free-kick converted by full back Lawrence proved to be the difference on the night, shocking the majority Mexico crowd in Pasadena.
Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake, who has had a stand-out tournament, came up with an incredible double-save in the 11th minute, first with his feet and then with his hands. The Philadelphia Union man’s reflexes were quick enough to reposition his body in time to make the crucial save on Jesus Duenas before getting up to make another save with his hands from Erick Torres’ shot.
It was Blake’s time to shine again in the 25th minute when he made a point-blank save on a Torres header.
Jamaica’s best chance in the first half came from Jermaine Taylor’s free-kick, which he fired low and on target only for Jose Corona to get his fingertips to it and make the save.
In the second half, Mexico continued to have the lion’s share of possession and one of their best chances came from substitute Jesus Gallardo who saw his free-kick on target saved by Blake.
In the 78th minute it was Corona’s turn to come up with the heroics as El Tri‘s keeper made an impressive, diving save on a header from Damion Lowe.
Ten minutes later, Corona could do nothing about Lawrence’s free-kick from about 25 yards out. The New York Red Bulls full back took his time before bending in a curling effort with his left foot to send the Reggae Boyz into the their second consecutive Gold Cup final.
The Jamaica national football team is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), the governing body for football in Jamaica. A member of CFU and CONCACAF, Jamaica has won the Caribbean Cup six times, with their latest win being the 2014 Caribbean Cup when they have beat Trinidad and Tobago in the finals. Jamaica finished as the runner-up in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which was its best performance in the competition; losing to Mexico.
Jamaica qualified once for the FIFA World Cup, in 1998. It is, along with the United States, Honduras and Costa Rica, one of the rare teams from the CONCACAF region to draw against Mexico in the Estadio Azteca in a World Cup qualifier match.
- Jamaica book place in CONCACAF Gold Cup final
- Defender Kemar Lawrence scores late winner
- USA vs Jamaica on 26 July, 21:30 local California time
