Late goal lifts Jamaica to shocking 1-0 win vs. Mexico in Gold Cup

PASADENA - Kemar Lawrence scored on an exquisite 24-yard free kick in the 88th minute, and Jamaica advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final with a 1-0 upset victory against Mexico on Sunday night.

Jamaica will face the United States on Wednesday night at Santa Clara. The Reggae Boyz are seeking their first championship in soccer’s North and Central American and Caribbean region.

Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake kept the game scoreless with a series of saves while Mexico dominated possession despite missing most its top players.

Lawrence’s late strike froze goalkeeper Jesus Corona. The ball rose past a five-man wall and curled into the left corner just below the bar for the New York Red Bulls defender’s third career international goal and first in three years.

The Reggae Boyz have reached the final for the second consecutive Gold Cup tournament, but this stunning upset at the Rose Bowl ranks among their biggest international wins.

Mexico has won seven Gold Cup titles, the United States five and Canada one.

Trying to win its second consecutive Gold Cup and fourth in five tournaments, Mexico used the deeper reaches of its player pool following the World Cup qualifiers and the Confederations Cup last month. Although teams were allowed to make up to six substitutions for the knockout rounds, El Tri coach Juan Carlos Osorio said he had been blocked by Mexico’s clubs.

Mexico hadn’t trailed in the tournament before Lawrence’s late goal, but El Tri also hadn’t been impressive - no player scored more than one goal. That lack of finishing skill ultimately cost Mexico, which failed to advance to the Gold Cup final for just the second time in the past six tournaments.

The crowd was dominated by Mexico’s vast Southern California fan base, but the Rose Bowl was less than half-full with just 42,393 fans.

The absence of Chicharito Hernandez and other top Mexican stars, combined with El Tri’s unattractive performances in the Gold Cup to date, apparently kept many of their usual faithful at home.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino watched the semifinal from the Rose Bowl stands.

So did Osorio, who served the fifth game of a six-match FIFA ban for his conduct toward officials during the Confederations Cup tournament matches in Russia.

Blake made two brilliant saves in succession in the 12th minute, diving twice to stop close-range chances by Jesus Duenas and Erick Torres, the Houston Dynamo star and the only player on the current roster from outside Mexico’s domestic leagues.

Blake did it again in the 25th minute, stopping Torres’ point-blank header from the top of the 6-yard box with improbably quick reactions.