WASHINGTON DC, CMC – For Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz to reach their first CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final in 13 years, they will have to do what they have never done in their history – beat the United States.
The Caribbean powerhouses clash with United States in the first of two quarter-finals today at RFK Stadium with the weight of history firmly against them.
In 17 meetings in all competitions, Jamaica have lost nine matches including seven of nine on American soil.
However, buoyed by a strong preliminary round performance where they swept all their matches to finish top of Group B, coach Theodore Whitmore believes his side is ready to rewrite history.
“Game-by-game, we keep improving,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the big one is against the USA. I’ve never beaten the US as a player or a coach. I would hope to do it on Sunday. It would be a great achievement for the Jamaican national team.”
This year represents a resurgence for Jamaica who have struggled in recent times at the Gold Cup.
They failed to make it out of the first round two years ago and did not even qualify for the tournament in 2007.
In 2005 they did well to reach the quarter-finals where ironically, they were beaten 3-1 by the US.
This year, they crushed Grenada 4-0, brushed aside Guatemala 2-0 before easing past Honduras 1-0 in their final game.
“We’re not sneaking up on anybody. People know what we can do,” said midfielder Ryan Johnson who plays for San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS.
“People can see that Jamaica has talent and we have a lot of good players and we’re dangerous. The US knows that and they’re going to be ready.
“We still can do better in some things. We’re doing the best we can. We haven’t given up any goals in the Gold Cup and that’s a huge accomplishment for Jamaica.
