Jamaica stun Mexico, book final with USA
Kemar Lawrence scored in the 88th minute to give Jamaica a shocking 1-0 upset of defending champion Mexico on Sunday in a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal match.
The 24-year-old fullback for Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls expertly curled a left-footed free kick around the Mexico wall and just under the crossbar to deliver Jamaica a stunner at the Rose Bowl.
"The best way I could put it is the Biblical story -- David slew Goliath," Jamaica coach Theodore Whitmore said.
The Reggae Boyz advanced to face the host United States in Wednesday's championship match at Santa Clara, California. The US squad beat Costa Rica 2-0 in a Saturday semifinal.
Despite sending most of their best players to Russia for the Confederations Cup, the Mexicans saw the dismal result as a reason for soul-searching and self-examination, acting manager Luis Pompilio Paez said.
"The football of Mexico has to rise from this fall," he said. "There will be an individual and collective analysis as well as self-criticism.”
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