Pre-Game Hype: USMNT vs. Jamaica
USMNT v Jamaica – GOLD CUP FINAL  Location: Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, CA) Date: Wednesday, July 26th, 2017 Time: 9:30pm ET TV: FS1, Univision, UDN Watch with your #AOFamily at 194 chapter locations THE HYPE It’s #gametime. The big one. The final. Our chance to retrieve what  is ours, the trophy that demonstrates that we are once again #KingsOfCONCACAF. While it would have been prophetic to beat Mexico in the final, it will be satisfying nonetheless to beat Jamaica, who knocked us out in 2015. An inspired 2-0 win against Costa Rica in Dallas on Saturdaywas perhaps our greatest performance of the Gold Cup yet. Super-sub Clint Dempsey changed the game with his 2nd half assist to Jozy Altidore and free-kick goal, doing it while tying LD’s all-time US Soccer male goal-scoring record. It should also be noted that the backline was largely dominant, though requiring a few good saves from Tim Howard and a lot of clearances from Besler and Gonzalez.  So, Jamaica is the final target on Wednesday. The Reggae Boys came up with a stellar win against Mexico in the other semi-final via a splendid freekick in the 90th minute in LA. The Jamaicans were composed, strategic, and showed real grit on Sunday night. It is certainly going to take a complete team performance to take these boys down tonight. But we undoubtedly believe in our guys.  We're in our 10th final (the most appearances of any CONCACAF side) in search of our sixth titles. Eleven goal scorers in five matches so far. Who's the #hero tonight? Here’s the lineups:  USMNT (Caps/Goals:  GK: Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas; 0/0), Bill Hamid (D.C. United; 3/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 117/0)  DEF: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 43/1), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 44/3), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas; 5/0), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 13/10), Matt Miazga (Chelsea/ENG; 3/1), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC/CAN; 3/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna, MEX; 10/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 52/5)  MID: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 13/1), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana/MEX; 10/2), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 135/17), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana/MEX; 20/3), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 11/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 19/1), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union; 5/0), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy; 36/6)  FOR: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution; 25/3), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 106/38), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 136/57), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 20/4)  JAMAICA:  GK: Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union/USA); Damion Hyatt (Arnett Gardens FC); Dwayne Miller (Valsta Syrianska IK/SWE)  DEF: Sergio Campbell (Rochester Rhinos/USA); Oniel Fisher (Seattle Sounders FC/USA); Shaun Francis (Montreal Impact/CAN), Rosario Harriott (Harbour View FC); Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls/USA); Damion Lowe (Tampa Bay Rowdies/USA); Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers/USA); Ladale Richie (Montego Bay United FC); Jermaine Taylor (Minnesota United FC/USA)  MID: Michael Binns (Portmore United FC); Ewan Grandison (Portmore United FC); Kevon Lambert (FK Vojvodina/SRB); Ricardo Morris (Portmore United FC); Je-Vaughn Watson (New England Revolution/USA)  FOR: Cory Burke (Bethlehem Steel FC/USA); Owayne Gordon (Montego Bay United FC); Jermaine Johnson (Tivoli Gardens FC); Darren Mattocks (Portland Timbers/USA); Shamar Nicholson (Boys' Town FC); Romario Williams (Charleston Battery/USA)  Darren Mattocks and Owayne Gordon have shown their attacking quality thus far in the Gold Cup, so watch for these guys to try to spoil the party. Andre Blake has been….what we call #clutch in the past few games. The Philadelphia Union man was a brick wall against Mexico saving a few point-blank shots.  No more anticipation, no excuses. It’s time for AO to step up tonight alongside our boys on the field and let them know we’re behind them.  Be loud.  Not able to make it to Santa Clara? Check out your local watch parties here! www.theamericanoutlaws.com/chapters  LET’S GOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Reminder – Every single human (and occasionally dogs) is welcome at each of our watch parties and into our supporters sections. If you are not OK with this, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.  XOXO, AO
July 26, 2017