Reggae Boyz defeat USA 2-1 to reach Sunday's Gold Cup final

Playing with purpose, speed, resolve and tactical awareness, and buttressed by a stout defence - which wins championships -  the Reggae Boyz defeated CONCACAF king pins the United States 2-1 in the opening semi-final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

With the win, the Boyz advance to Sunday's final at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

From the off, the USA started off with fast breaks, but the Reggae Boyz matched them with solid defending and swift counterattacks of their own.

The Boyz ended up in the USA's penalty box on two early occasions, but couldn't capitalise, while Jevaughn Watson kicked wide right from about 12 yards out on a third occasion.

In the first fifteen minutes, the pace was brisk, and observers wondered if the both teams could keep up this torrid pace.

During the second 15 minutes ( between the 15th and 30th minutes ) the Reggae Boyz soaked up a tremendous anount of pressure from the marauding the USA team.

But the break came in the 31st minute, when a left sided throw from about 24 yards out, found striker Darren Mattocks in between defenders, and his header beat the US custodian to the far post to give the Reggae Boyz the lead.

Five minutes later, the Reggae Boyz got a free kick from 19 yards out on the right channel, and Giles Barnes drove home a ferrocious right footed shot over the wall and away from goalkeeper Guzon for a 2-0 Reggae Boyz lead.

The United States bench and team were in shock.

The US had their moments in the opening stanza, but solid goalkeeping from Ryan Thompson, ensured the Boyz kept a clan sheet in the opening 45 minutes.

But three minutes into the second half, the Boyz had a rare breakdown in midfield, which led to a long range effort from the US, which inexplicably was spilled not once, but twice by Goalkeeper Ryan Thompson, and allowed US captain Michael Bradley to tap home the rebound in the 48th minute.

From then on it was  a frenetic pace, as the US pressed for the equaliser, while Jamaica emerged from defence with counterattacks which troubled the US, but the Boyz couldn't find the third goal.

In the end, the Boyz possessed the ball much more in the final 20 minutes, were stronger, and defiantly held off the USA to win 2-1 and book their place in Sunday's final, where they will oppose Mexico at 6:30p.m. Jamaica time at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Mexico defeated Panama 2-1 in extra time in an ill-tempered semi-final. 

Torres headed Panama into the lead in the 57th minute, then Mexican skipper Guardardo netted a controversial penalty in the 90th minute, before scoring another in extra time.

Panama and the USA will meet on Saturday in the 3rd place play off.