Jones and Dempsey Score to Put US in Gold Cup Semis with 2-0 Win over Jamaica

The US turned around their tournament with an impressive 2-0 win over Jamaica today at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.  A deflection goal from Jermaine Jones in the 49th minute and a superb counter attack finished by Clint Dempsey in the 70th secured the Americans spot in the Gold Cup Semis on June 22 at Houston's Reliant Stadium.

The game began nervously for the US.  The speed of the Jamaican forwards got the best of the US defense, and Howard was forced to make a great save on Jamaica's Ryan Johnson.  The rebound fell to Luton Shelton, but he could only waste the chance putting the ball over the open net.

The trouble continued for the US when in the 11th minute, striker Jose Altidore called for a sub after coming up limp with a pulled hamstring. Substitute Juan Agudelo came on and put a spark in the US attack.  A majority of the rest of the game would be played with the US comfortably possessing the ball.

Moments later, Bedoya would head down to the top of the 18, where Dempsey was waiting.  The Fulham man put a good low shot on goal forcing a great save from Jamaican keeper Donovan Ricketts.  It would be his first of many throughout the match.

The 39th minute would see Dempsey with another opportunity and Ricketts an equally brilliant save.  After the US midfielder Sacha Kljestan would earn a corner, the ensuing scramble in the box saw the ball fall to Dempsey's feet.  Ricketts would again make another low save to deny the US a goal.  The game would go into halftime tied at zero.

Four minutes into the second half, Jermaine Jones' strike from 30 yards would put the US up 1-0.  After the ball was cleared from the Jamaican box, Jones collected it in the midfield.  He charged forward and fired a low hard shot from outside the box.  The ball would deflect off the out stretched leg of Jamaican midfielder Eric Vernan and be deflected away from Ricketts, who was diving in the opposite direction.

Ten minutes later, Dempsey was presented with another opportunity and again denied by Ricketts.  RB Steve Cherundolo would put in a beautiful low cross to Dempsey, who was wide open in front of the net.  Dempsey read the bounce of the ball off the turf perfectly and head on goal.  However, the feet of Ricketts shuffled quickly across and made another impressive save to deny the Texas native again.

While Jamaica presented little in the way of a threat to the US throughout, their chance of moving on took a major hit in the 66th minute when defender Jermaine Taylor was shown a controversial straight Red for a tackle on Jermaine Jones.

A great counter attack from the US put Jamaica on their heels.  Jones got behind the back four of Jamaica, and Taylor was forced to bring him down, even through replay suggested he never touched Jones.  However, it mattered not to match official Rodriguez and Moreno, and Taylor was given his marching orders.

The US counter was alive all day, and in the 79th minute, finally put the game to rest.

The US broke out of their zone with a swift counter attack started by sub Landon Donovan.  Dononvan would thread the ball to the streaking Agudelo on his right.  As the defenders collapsed on the Red Bulls star, he played a beautiful cross to a wide open Dempsey standing just outside of the six yard box.  Dempsey coolly collected the ball and dragged it around the on charging Ricketts and passed it into an empty net.

By finally getting the better of Ricketts, who had been outstanding all game and was the only reason it remained within the reach of Jamaica, Dempsey secured the win and put the US into the Semifinals of the 2011 Gold Cup.