Jones fired a shot from outside the penalty area and Jamaica defender Jermaine Taylor stuck out his foot, deflecting the ball past goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. It was Jones' first goal of the tournament.
Taylor came out on the losing end of another exchange between the two nearly 20 minutes later. Jones beat the defense in the middle of Jamaica's half and was about to break free for a 1-on-1 chance USA 2-0 Jamaica Taylor tackled him from behind,
Jamaica entered the game as the only team in the tournament to win all three of its group-stage games without allowing a goal, USA 2-0 Jamaica video goals the Reggae Boyz failed to earn their first ever win against the U.S.Both teams had scoring chances in the first half, although neither team capitalized. Jamaica had its best opportunity early on, and it took an excellent save by goalie Tim Howard to knock away Demar Phillips' shot from the left side of the goal box in the fourth minute.
video goals USA 2-0 Jamaica CONCACAF Gold Cup 2011 Quarter Final
That changed early in second half after a cross from Eric Lichaj was cleared right to the feet of Jermaine Jones who lashed a thunderous drive which Rickets most likely would have saved had it not been for the intervention of Jermaine Taylor, who diverted the ball into the back of his own net. The goal was credited to Jones, but it was the deflection that took it in. The two Jermaines would meet again twenty minutes later when Jones burst through the Jamaica back line and Taylor slid in from behind. Jones fell and replays called into question whether or not there was contact. It appeared as if the heel of Jones hit the underside Taylor's leg, but the contact was minimal at most. Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez Moreno had no choice once he blew for a foul; Taylor had to go.
But as the game wore on, Jones may have been questioning his own decision to go down. Jamaica were gradually getting back into the game, and one goal would have forced overtime. Had Jones stayed on his feet, the most likely outcome would have been a goal.
Fortunately for the Americans, the two brothers of newlyweds would leave their mark on the game and put all doubts to rest in the 80th minute. Donovan was in the middle of a lovely one-two with Juan Agudelo, who had come on for the injured Jozy Altidore early in the first half. Agudelo then played in a Concacaf Gold Cup 2011 finals cross for an unmarked Dempsey, who still had to dance around Rickets before prodding home. Dempsey washed his face in celebration, hoping to indicate that he had cleansed himself of the drought of goals brought about by nothing more than his own apathy in front of goal.Throughout the match, Bradley and Jones covered an enormous amount of ground in midfield. Alejandro Bedoya was dangerous on the wings before being replaced by Donovan. Sacha Kljestan and Bradley showed excellent vision. And Clarence Goodson was a rock at the back, with a number of good clearances and tackles. Jones Concacaf Gold Cup Finals takes man of the match for his role in two of the three most important moments, but it was an excellent display overall by the Americans.
