Club

Gold Cup | Powell, Mattocks and Jamaica upset Mexico to reach tournament final

Alvas Powell, Jamaica vs. Mexico, 7.23.17

Portland Timbers Alvas Powell and Darren Mattocks both started for Jamaica in the Reggae Boyz' 1-0 upset win over Mexico in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal Sunday evening at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.


The victory earns Jamaica a spot in the tournament final Wednesday against the U.S. Men's National Team (6:30pm PT, FS1).

Powell went the full 90 for Jamaica and registered two shots in the game while Mattocks played 89 minutes and had a shot as well. New York Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence scored the lone goal of the match on a curling free kick in the 87th minute.


Nine different MLS players started for the Reggae Boyz and their importance to the team's success was addressed by Jamaica head coach Theodore Whitmore after the match.


"MLS has done a lot for our football back in Jamaica,” he said. “The experience, the exposure, these players get in MLS and what they bring back to the country, it’s a plus."

Wednesday's final will also bring a reunion of sorts for Timbers teammates as Powell and Mattocks will face Darlington Nagbe with the USMNT. Nagbe and the U.S. beat David Guzmán and Costa Rica 2-0 Saturday evening to book their spot in the championship match.