SHOWDOWN SET: Pulisic’s brace downs Jamaica; Sets up Showdown with Mexico in final
Christian Pulisic scored a brace and Weston McKinnie scored his 2nd goal in as many games as the USA beat Jamaica in a weather delayed game to secure a place in the Gold Cup final.
Team USA went ahead early in the game, when Weston McKinnie put the ball in the net in the 9th minute of the game. McKinnie ended a great team play that started when Michael Bradley sent a long pass that Reggie Cannon first touched into the box for Jozy Altidore, tapping the ball to McKinnie for a right footed shot past the keeper.
The game was stopped in the 19th minute due to lightning in the area and was delayed for an hour and 28 minutes.
The Yanks 2nd goal came in the 52nd minute of the second half via Christian Pulisic. The Wonder Boy beat his defender to a loose ball after a Jordan Morris shot was saved by Andre Blake.
The Reggae Boys made it interesting in the 69th minute via the recently substituted Shamar Nicholson. Leon Bailey crossed a ball from the right side of the field that Nicholson headed past a diving Zack Steffen. This was the first goal the USA had allowed all tournament.
Jamaica surged forward after the goal, to try and equalize the game. However, The Wonder Boy sealed the Americans ticket to the final in the 87th minute. Pulisic again found another rebound in the box and took a right footed shot to the right of Blake for the game winner.
The goal sparked a “We want Mexico” chant from the crowd in Nashville as the rivalry match with El Tri awaits the Yanks this Sunday in the Gold Cup Final. Mexico goes into the final as the favorite, but recent sloppy form is a concern as they will face an American team that seems to have found its groove in the past few games. This is the final the fans and CONCACAF wanted, and now the showdown is set in a sold-out Soldier Field.
