Each country will be looking to take the necessary step to dethrone the United States as Champions, and a win means they could face the title holders in the semifinals next week.
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The Jamaicans scored the only goal in the seventh minute.
Left back Fabian Johnson sparked the opening goal, playing a cross that went through to the other side of the field.
Cuba’s best chance was again stymied by their own lack of cohesion, one player taking a chance off the boot of another for a lesser opportunity.
As the French-speaking Caribbean team couldn’t find a way through, they opted for a lot of shots from outside the box in the second half, none of which threatened the Jamaica goal.
Now 32, Dempsey said he does not take home that many mementoes. They were the host nation that year.
Hungry for the equalizer, the Haitians picked up where they left off in the second half as Marcelin powered a rising shot from outside the area just over the crossbar in the 49th minute.
The Reggae Boyz went ahead when Crystal Palace’s Adrian Mariappa ran onto a pass over the defence that landed near the goal line and cut the ball back to the 26-year-old Barnes, who was born in London and played for England’s Under-19 team before switching his allegiance to Jamaica.
Haiti would look to respond quickly. Fortunately for Jamaica, backup goalkeeper Ryan Thompson played very well making crucial saves in the 1-0 win over El Salvador.
Jamaica midfielder Simon Dawkins (18) battles for the ball against…
Les Grenadiers would have one final attempt to level before the half-time whistle when Jean Alexandre released a vicious, swerving right-footer from distance, but it skimmed just over the bar.
Historically speaking, Haiti hasn’t had much luck against the Jamaicans.
In Wednesday’s semifinal at Atlanta, the Americans play Jamaica, which beat Haiti 1-0 in the second game of the doubleheader.
Haiti matched its best-ever Gold Cup showing, having also reached the last eight in 2002 and 2009. Jamaica qualified for this tournament because they won the 2014 Caribbean Cup over Trinidad and Tobago. They appear to be the early kickoff, 6 pm ET, but that remains to be made official.
Unfortunately for Jamaica they will be missing a number of players as reported by MLS.com.
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Duckens Nazon also struck the post in the first half for Haiti, which exits the tournament after the impressive feat of progressing from a group that included the U.S, Honduras and Panama.
