Morris’ late goal carries U.S. to title over Jamaica
Americans unbeaten under coach Arena’s second stint
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Jordan Morris scored in the 88th minute Wednesday, lifting the U.S. national soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Jamaica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final at Levi’s Stadium.
The Americans won the regional championship for the sixth time, one behind Mexico’s record trophy haul, and continued their unbeaten run since Bruce Arena began his second tenure as head coach in the winter.
The late goal came on a night when Jamaica lost star goalkeeper Andre Blake to a gruesome finger injury in the first half before an announced crowd of 63,032 on a perfect night in Northern California.
Clint Dempsey, the U.S. team’s super sub, threatened to break the tie in the late stage, but Blake’s replacement, Dwayne Miller, made a remarkable save.
Morris, who led nearby Stanford to an NCAA title before winning 2016 MLS rookie of the year honors with the Seattle Sounders, smacked a 14-yard shot into the right side as the Americans improved to 9-0-5 under Arena.
Jozy Altidore had put the United States ahead on a 45th-minute free kick, but the Reggae Boyz drew even five minutes after intermission on Je-Vaughn Watson’s goal.
After shuttling players in and out of the lineup for three weeks, Arena did something radical Wednesday: He retained the same group that started
the semifinal.
The selection of forwards Altidore and Morris left Dempsey in reserve again, a role he filled magnificently in the 2-0 semifinal victory over Costa Rica with a goal and an assist.
Besides the same personnel, Arena employed the same formation: no central playmaker, Darlington Nagbe and Joe Corona on the wings, and Michael Bradley and Kellyn Acosta interchanging in the heart of midfield.
Jamaica’s lineup featured seven players from MLS teams, two from the second-division USL and two from its domestic league.
The Reggae Boyz have enjoyed an international renaissance in the Gold Cup under Coach Theodore Whitmore after crashing out of the 2018 World Cup qualifying competition in the semifinal round. A 1-0 victory over Mexico on Sunday, anchored by Blake’s handiwork, earned them a second consecutive championship berth.
Jamaica began the match sitting deep and waiting to counterattack. The Americans were happy to hoard possession and attempt to solve the congested puzzle.
In the 19th minute, Blake was tested for the first time — and last time.
After blocking Altidore’s rasping drive from distance, he bravely lunged for the rebound as Acosta surged toward the ball — Acosta’s right foot smashing into Blake’s right hand.
The ball spun short of the goal line and was cleared by defender Damion Lowe, but Blake had suffered an unsightly finger injury. After a long delay while Blake received medical attention, Miller entered.
The match stayed deadlocked until the 45th minute on Altidore’s hellacious goal - a 28-yard free kick that whistled over the defensive wall and beyond the soaring Miller’s reach before skimming the underside of the crossbar and splashing into the top corner of the net for his 39th international goal.
The Americans couldn’t have felt much better about their halftime standing: a goal before intermission and Jamaica’s most important player sidelined.
But the Reggae Boyz squared the match five minutes into the second half.
Kemar Lawrence, the free-kick hero of the semifinal victory, served a corner kick to the back side. Watson worked around Morris and met Lawrence’s ball with a five-yard volley that beat Tim Howard to the near corner.
Five minutes later, Arena turned to Dempsey in place of Acosta and gave his veteran the freedom to rove in the attacking third. The Americans turned up the heat.
Jamaica’s speed raised havoc at the other end. The open field was Jamaica’s friend.
In the 73rd minute, Miller made an excellent save on Morris’s rising 17-yarder targeting the near upper corner.
Three minutes later, Dempsey looked like he had shattered the tie — and set the U.S. scoring record — with a stinging header of Jorge Villafaña’s cross. But Miller launched himself to the right, reaching to tip the shot off the right post.
With 30 minutes of extra time, and possibly penalty kicks, on the horizon, Morris applied the winning touches.
Gyasi Zardes crossed. Defender Jermaine Taylor’s header struck the unsuspecting Dempsey’s foot and caromed to Morris, who, with his team-best third goal of the tournament, set off a wild celebration on the field, on the sideline and in the stands.