WASHINGTON — Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey scored in the United States’ 2-0 victory over Jamaica on Sunday in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals.
On Wednesday in Houston, the United States will face the Panama-El Salvador winner.
Jones fired a shot from outside the penalty ar
ea and Jamaica defender Jermaine Taylor stuck out his foot, deflecting the ball past goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts in the 49th minute. It was Jones’ first goal of the tournament.
Taylor came out on the losing end of another exchange between the two nearly 20 minutes later. Jones beat the defense in the middle of Jamaica’s half and was about to break free for a 1-on-1 chance when Taylor tackled him from behind, earning a red card in the 67th minute.With Jamaica down a man, Dempsey added the second goal with 10 minutes to play. Juan Agudelo’s cross found Dempsey alone on the left side of the goal. Ricketts came out to contest, and Dempsey avoided the tackle and put the ball in the empty net.
Dempsey also scored in the group-stage opener against Canada.
Jamaica entered the game as the only team in the tournament to win all three of its group-stage games without conceding a goal, but the visitors failed to earn their first ever win against the U.S.
Both teams had scoring chances in the first half, although neither team capitalized. Jamaica had its best opportunity early on, and it took an excellent save by goalkeeper Tim Howard to knock away Demar Phillips’ shot from the left side of the box in the fourth minute.
The U.S. also suffered a blow early when striker Jozy Altidore left with a strained left hamstring and was replaced by Agudelo in the 12th minute.
Jones seemed to be in position for a possible goal late in the opening half, when Rickett saved a shot by Agudelo and the rebound bounced straight to Jones, but he couldn’t control the ball.
Midfielders Landon Donovan and Dempsey had not trained with the team in Washington before the match. Each were excused to attend their sisters’ weddings — Dempsey in Texas and Donovan in California. Each the players arrived in Washington early Sunday morning. Dempsey was in the starting lineup, but Donovan was a substitute. It was the first U.S. game Donovan began on the bench since June 9, 2007.
Donovan entered in the 65th minute to a huge cheer from the crowd, replacing Alejandro Bedoya.
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