Substitute Darren Mattocks converted a penalty in the 75th minute after Michael Murillo's hand ball moments earlier, and Jamaica defeated Panama 1-0 in the first of two Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
Mattocks' fifth-career Gold Cup goal takes Jamaica to within one victory of their third consecutive appearance in the tournament final after losing in their previous two, to Mexico in 2015 and the US national team in 2017.
The Reggae Boyz will meet either the US in the semifinals on Wednesday in Nashville (9pm ET | FS1, Univision, UDN), after the Americans' 1-0 victory over Curacao later Sunday evening.
Panama had 60 percent of the game's possession and arguably more quality chances, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals for a second consecutive tournament.
Goals
- 75' - JAM - Darren Mattocks (PK) | WATCH
Three Things
MOMENT OF THE MATCH:
It wasn't so much Mattocks' penalty as the discussion that preceded it. The
FC Cincinnati
forward had only entered the game two minutes earlier for Dever Orgill, yet as soon as referee Mario Escobar pointed to the spot, Mattocks grabbed the ball insistently. An animated discussion between he,
New York Red Bulls
fullback
Kemar Lawrence
and a few other Jamaica players followed, but ultimately Mattocks got his wish and came through with an emphatic penalty.
Up Next
- JAM: Wednesday, July 3 vs. United States, Gold Cup semifinal (9 pm ET | FS1, Univision, UDN)
- PAN: Eliminated from Gold Cup
