Gold Cup Final

Can confident Reggae Boyz best Mexico?

By Paul Burrowes

Jamaica have beaten Mexico more than the United States, being more competitive against their Spanish-speaking neighbours from North America.
After 23 matches, the Reggae Boyz recorded four wins and two draws against El Tricolor, for years one of the most dominant teams in the region.
The Boyz have also lost all five matches against the Mexicans in the Gold Cup, a history they intend to rewrite on Sunday, July 26 at the Lincoln Financial Field, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Match time 6:30 pm.
Winfried Schafer's Boyz have won more games (four) than any other team in the current Gold Cup, led by Giles Barnes and Garath McLeary. Jobi McAnuff, Darren Mattocks and influential skipper Rodolph Austin netted the other goals.

The Boyz have been centred around Kemar Lawrence, Wes Morgan, Adrian Mariappa, and skipper Austin, with McCleary and McAnuff also featuring.
Lawrence has provided two assists, with one from McCleary, and these are players that will have to spearhead Jamaica's first every Gold Cup title, joining Mexico (six), United States (five) and Canada (one).
Schafer has also kept faith with Simon Dawkins and Michael Hector, who have also played in all five matches.
JeVaughn Watson has been a key member of the defence, but may not start.
The Mexicans, meanwhile, have been here before -
playing in all 13 Gold Cups and winning six of the seven finals they contested.
Their experience in Gold Cup finals will count, led by defensive midfielder Andres Guardado (five goals), striker Orib Peralta (three goals), and right winger Carlos Vela (two goals).
Like Jamaica, Mexico have not tinkered with their defence. Maza, Guillermo Ochoa, Diego Reyes, and Paul Aguilar, supported by Guardado and another defensive midfielder in Miguel Layun, have ensured Tricolor remain solid around the back.
Mexico will have be silenced early with a goal or two against them in the first half hour and Guardado need to be stopped in his tracks early.
Otherwise, it will be a fight right down to the end.