This year’s Gold Cup final looked like an odd one on paper. Mexico, the reigning power of the region, had sent a C-team to the tournament without any adequate backup brought in for the group stages, and subsequently lost to Jamaica in the semifinals. Jamaica, who did not qualify for the Hexagonal tournament, returned to the Gold Cup final for their second straight tournament. And the U.S. made the final for the first time since 2013.
The battle promised to be scrappy and physical, with Jamaica bringing their 5-3-2 formation to the final. The Reggae Boyz had only given up 2 goals in the entire tournament prior to the final, and looked like they were content to pack it in at the back while the speedy strike-duo of Darren Mattocks and Romario Williams went to work on the U.