Published 6/19/2011 6:19:34 PM by Roberto Garcia from soccermogul

The US put on their most complete performance to date at the 2011 Gold Cup as they dismantled Jamaica 2-0.  I think there is a common statement in tournament play.  "It is not how you start the tournament, but how you finish."  

Well after a poor start to the Gold Cup the Americans showed they are to be reckoned with.  Jamaica had been almost perfect through their first three matches winning all three without even allowing a goal.  They didn't look like the same team on Sunday as they were often confused and out of position.

The US dominated the ball for long stretches of play and never let the potent Jamaica attack loose.  They only generated one chance the entire match, but a nice reaction save from Tim Howard and then a blown finish would be about the only action Tim Howard had all afternoon.

It was pretty much all USA after that, although Donovan Ricketts tried to keep his team in the match with several quality saves at the other end.  He just couldn't do it all himself.

After halftime the American pressure broke the game open.  Jermaine Jones pounced on a loose ball outside the Jamaica penalty area where he rifled a low shot at goal.  The ball took a deflection and skipped past Ricketts for the opening goal.  Things would go from bad to worse for the visitors soon after.

Again it was Jones as he blazed through the midfield threatening to skip off on a breakaway.  Jamaica's Jermaine Taylor tried to tackle him and ended up seeing a red card for the foul.  At that point the match was all but decided.

The US would make it 2-0 in the 80th minute as Clint Dempsey took a perfect pass from Juan Agudelo and went around Ricketts to tap into the empty net.  The attackers came from all angles and Jamaica were forced to sit back often with 6 along the backline.

The Americans look good now and should feel more confident of advancing to the final.  The only negative was an early injury to Jozy Altidore that looks to keep him out of the rest of the Gold Cup.

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