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Schäfer and Jamaica win silver in Gold Cup

July 27, 2015

After their dramatic semifinal victory over the US, Jamaica fell just short in the Gold Cup final. Nevertheless, Head Coach Winfried Schäfer sees it as a victory, especially as it had nothing to do with cricket.

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CONCACAF Gold Cup FInale Jamaica Mexiko
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Foley

Jamaica had to settle for a runner-up finish at the Gold Cup after losing 3-1 to Mexico, who lifted a record seventh trophy. Boasting the tournament's most productive attack, Mexico humbled a Jamaican side that had been the event's top defenders, surrendering only three goals in five prior matches.

Mexican captain Andres Guardado - named as the tournament's top player - scored the opener with a left-foot volley off a Paul Aguilar cross. The second goal, one that Schäfer hailed as a killer goal came two minutes into the second half when Jesus Corona scored after stealing the ball from Hector and blasting it between defender Wes Morgan's legs and inside the far post. Oribe Peralta all but ended Jamaica's dream with a third, leaving a late goal from Darren Mattocks ten minutes from time as nothing more than a consolation.

Just not cricket

Jamaica was the first Caribbean squad to reach the Gold Cup final, thanks to a 2-1 upset of the United States in the semi-finals. The best prior "Reggae Boyz" showing was a share of third in 1993. "For me this is not silver. For me this is gold," head coach Winfried Schäfer said. "I want to send a message to the people who don't understand what our players are doing for their country. I don't want to hear about bowlers, added Schäfer in reference to the West Indies cricket team dominating attention in Jamaica while his team made its historic run, as well as the fact his players gave up their entire club off-seasons to play in Copa America and the Gold Cup. "Nobody gave us a shot. This team played all its matches over its head. I'm very proud to coach this team. Jamaica should be very proud."

CONCACAF Gold Cup winners Mexico
Mexico were deserved winnersImage: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Foley

"We're very happy," Mexico manager Miguel Herrera said afterwards. "We dominated the ball. We got the rhythm we wanted and controlled the play. It's a great satisfaction for all of us."

The feeling after the final was much better than after the previous two games, where Mexico benefitted from late foul calls that set up goals from the penalty spot in wins over Costa Rica in the quarterfinals and Panama in the semifinals. Both losers have asked the Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Associations Football (CONCACAF) to investigate the calls. CONCACAF, with several former officials charged in the US federal bribery scandal involving FIFA, admitted referee mistakes but no darker conspiracy.

jh/asz (AFP, Reuters)