That was not the comfortable win I predicted. Jamaica did exactly what they did against Mexico, ceding possession and looking for counters and set piece opportunities. Their cause seemed doomed after they lost their spectacular goalie to injury (his hand was kicked as he tried to stop a rebound shot) and his replacement looked poor on a free kick that Altidore curled under the crossbar to put the US ahead just before the half. But Jamaica leveled on a corner: Jordan Morris allowed his mark to run past him and get a clean finish from short range at the far post. The Jamaican keeper made two or three great saves and they rode their luck for a half hour, and then Morris redeemed himself by one-timing a loose ball hard and high and on frame, getting a slight deflection to take it past the keeper. Four minutes later, extra time finished and the US had another Gold Cup. It was certainly deserved.
Arena has done what I hoped he'd do. The US is unbeaten in the 14 games since he took over, including a qualifier at Azteca and the six Gold Cup games. The players are expressing themselves and seem looser (sometimes too loose). They're learning to play within the system and they're creating chances. Everyone knows where he stands and what's expected of him.
Villafana frustrates me no end. The commentators kept praising his defense, but I'm not so sure about that; and until late in the game, it seemed he hit the first defender with every cross. Nagbe was good at keeping the ball, but kept running into trouble and wound up passing backwards. Gonzalez seemed solid; Besler gave the ball away a couple times. Bradley wasn't putting his free kicks in the right spot, though to be fair Jamaica defended them well. Dempsey improves the team a lot. He missed getting his 58th by an inch or two when their keeper got fingertips on a header and pushed it onto the post.
I'm sure they'll improve. Pulisic and other Europe-based players weren't on the team, but they'll be on hand for the World Cup.
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