News Americas, ATLANTA, GA, Thurs. July 23, 2015: Congratulations began pouring in on Twitter just seconds after Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz made history at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and became the first ever Caribbean team to reach the finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The Jamaicans struck like a bolt of lightning sent down from heaven as they sent a stunned U.S. men’s soccer team packing out of the tourney with a 2-1 upset Wednesday evening.
Jamaica’s Darren Mattocks and Giles Barnes each scored within five minutes of the other to give their ‘likkle’ team a ‘talawah’ victory.
In the 31st minute, Mattocks found himself free in the box and headed a long throw in over the outstretched arms of US goalie Brad Guzan to give Jamaica a 1-0 lead.
Minutes later, Guzan was whistled for a handball as he crossed over the 18-yard line while advancing the ball out of his own goal. Barnes stepped up and calmly bent the direct kick around the right side of the U.S. wall to put Jamaica up 2-0.
The David win over the Mighty Goliath triggered immediate celebration among the many Jamaicans who were lucky to secure tickets to the semi-final match-up and the millions more watching on television and online including U.S. tennis star Serena Williams.
“Rhatid.. Mi still cyaan believe it. Big Up #Jamaica! Good luck in the gold medal match! #DividedLoyalties LOL,” William tweeted.
Prior to her posting she added: “Wow. Did #USA underestimate #Jamaica, I wonder? Don’t ever do that!”
Even Major League Soccer got in on the action, tweeting support for their player Giles Barnes of the Houston Dynamo. “@GilesBarnesReal puts the Reggae Boyz up 2-0,” MLS tweeted.
Top Jamaican Olympian, Usain St. Leo Bolt also took to Twitter immediately after to laud the Jamaican men’s soccer team. “Congrats #ReggaeBoyz on the victory over USA beating them 2-1 #GoldCup2015,” Bolt tweeted.
Tennis star, Jamaican-German also took to Twitter to post: “#Booooommmm #Jamaica… Congrats #ReggeaBoyz… 1 More Fi Go”
Former top Caribbean soccer player, Trinidadian Shaka Hislop also weighed in, tweeting: “WELL PLAYED REGGAE BOYZ! WELL PLAYED!! Doing the Caribbean very proud!”
And The House of Marley Tweeted: “#ReggaeBoyz break history and head to the Gold Cup Finals over a 2-1 win to @ussoccer #GoldCup2015.”
The 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup finals weekend will kick off with the third-place game on Saturday, July 25 at 4 p.m. ET at PPL Park in Chester, PA between the USA and Panama.
The grand finale will take place on Sunday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia when Jamaica will face Mexico.
Tickets for both Philadelphia matches are still available by visiting GoldCup.org.
The Gold Cup will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, UniMás and UDN, and also heard on the Fútbol de Primera radio network.
