Mexico-Jamaica: Rematch of 2015 final on tap

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jul 21, 2017

Mexico and Jamaica will meet in a rematch of the 2015 Gold Cup final Sunday in the semifinals at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Gold Cup, Semifinal Appearances
13 (5) USA
11 (7) Mexcio
6 Costa Rica
5 Honduras
4 Jamaica
4 Panama
Note: In parentheses are first-place finishes.

Rodolfo Pizarro scored in the fourth minute and Mexico held on to beat Honduras, 1-0. The Catrachos exited without scoring a goal in four games, their lone win coming via forfeit against French Guiana.

Mexico did not make any changes to its roster for the quarterfinals after the Mexican federation -- dominated by Liga MX's club owners -- refused to allow Coach Juan Carlos Osorio to make player moves. He said he had met with seven players he took to the Confederations Cup and told them he might bring them in for the quarterfinals.

Seven players Osorio took to the Confederations Cup were on Mexico's provisional squad for the Gold Cup: Rodolfo Cota (Guadalajara), Nestor Araujo (Santos), Rafael Marquez (Atlas), Luis Reyes (Atlas), Jurgen Damm (Tigres), Hirving Lozano and Orbelin Pineda (Guadalajara).

Every player on Mexico's Gold Cup team is domestic-based except the Houston Dynamo's Erick Torres.

July 20 in Glendale, Arizona
Mexico 1 Honduras 0. Goal: Pizarro 4.
Mexico -- J.Corona; Gallardo, Ayala, Pereira, Alvarez, Pizarro (R.Lopez 90+1), Molina (Rodriguez 65), Duenas; Orbelin Pineda, Sepulveda (Torres 75), E.Hernandez.
Honduras -- L.Lopez; Sanchez (Garcia 46), M. Figueroa, H.Figueroa, Crisanto; Alvarado, Mejia; Quioto, Costa (Pena 68), Elis; Lanza (A.Lopez 73).
Att.: 37,404.



Jamaica got goals from Shaun Francis (recently traded from MLS's San Jose Earthquakes to the Montreal Impact) and Romario Williams (USL's leading scorer with 14 goals for the Charlotte Battery on loan from Atlanta United) to beat Canada, 2-1.

July 20 in Glendale, Arizona
Jamaica 2 Canada 1. Goals: Francis 6, Williams 50; Hoilett 61.
Jamaica -- Blake; Lawrence, Taylor, Lowe, Powell; Francis (Burke 67), Watson, Lambert (Binns 89), Gordon; Mattocks, Williams (Richie 81).
Canada -- Borjan; de Jong, Vitoria (James 56), Jakovic, Petrasso; Piette, Teibert, Arfield; Davies (Jackson-Hamel 82), Larin (Cavallini 56), Hoilett.
Att.: 37,404.