AFP, Atlanta :
Jamaica’s “Reggae Boyz” stunned defending champion United States 2-1 Wednesday in a Gold Cup semi-final, becoming the first Caribbean squad to reach the final by shocking the heavily favored hosts.
Darren Mattocks headed in the first goal in the 31st minute and Giles Barnes netted a free kick in the 36th minute to put Jamaica ahead 2-0 and signal an epic upset was in the making at the sold-out Georgia Dome.
The Americans, after all, were 13-1 with eight drawn in prior matches against the Jamaicans, their only loss in that span coming by 2-1 at Kingston in 2012.
US captain Michael Bradley answered for the Americans in the 48th minute off a rebound and the US kept pressing the attack but never found the equalizer to avoid a humbling defeat.
Jamaica will face the winner of a later semi-final between Mexico and Panama in Sunday’s final of the biennial North American regional football championship.
