The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Morris atones for blunder
Gold Cup-winning goal made up for his error on tying score.
SANTA CLARA, CALIF. — Bruce Arena found forward Jordan Morris not long after the final whistle blew to offer some encouraging words to the U.S. forward, who had just helped deliver another CONCACAF Gold Cup title.
Arena learned a little more about the young American in one half of soccer that began with a costly mistake and finished with a spectacular strike.
“I said, ‘You made up for the goal you gave away for us.’ And then I said, ‘You hit that ball pretty good,’” the U.S. coach recalled. “Those kind of moments are important for a player. That’s a big step he took tonight, so I’m real pleased with that.”
The former star at nearby Stanford scored a tiebreaking goal in the 88th minute, lifting the United States past Jamaica 2-1 Wednesday night for the Americans’ sixth Gold Cup championship and first since 2013.
In a span of 19 months, Morris, 22, has won an NCAA title in 2015 with Stanford, scoring the first two goals in a 4-0 rout of Clemson; won the 2016 MLS Cup for his hometown Seattle Sounders, who beat Toronto on penalty kicks; and now added a Gold Cup medal to his growing collection.
“Some of those still haven’t set in,” he said. “It’s pretty special to be part of three great teams . ... It’s very exciting.”
Morris’ goal came after he lost his mark on Je-Vaughn Watson, who evened the score in the 50th minute with a 4-yard volley off Kemar Lawrence’s corner kick.
“It definitely lingers around a little bit. To be honest, I’ve never really had anything like that in my career where I was kind of at fault for the other team scoring like that,” Morris said. “It was tough to get over, especially in such a big game. My teammates were great and for me, it just helped to keep pushing forward and try to make a difference.”
Morris got the breakthrough goal with a 14-yard right-footed shot after Gyasi Zardes crossed. Jermaine Taylor tried to clear with a header and the ball was knocked by Clint Dempsey back to Morris.
“I’m happy for Jordan because that was a tough moment for him. He lost his mark for a second and at this level you lose your mark for one second and it can be a goal, and that’s what happened,” said fellow forward Jozy Altidore, who scored the Americans’ initial goal on a 45th-minute free kick. “I was telling him, making fun of him because the look on his face was so sad. For him to get that chance and bury it, everybody was so thrilled for him. He works so hard. He’s a kid with a lot of potential, a lot of talent and he’s come a long way.”