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Kick-off: July 22 @ 6.00 pm EST
Venue: Georgia Dome (Atlanta, Georgia)
Past meetings
USA v Jamaica 2-0 (2014 World Cup qualifier)
Jamaica v USA 1-2 (2014 World Cup qualifier)
USA v Jamaica 1-0 (2014 World Cup qualifier)
Jamaica v USA 2-1 (2014 World Cup qualifier)
Jamaica v USA 0-2 (International friendly)
United States
Last 5 matches:
USA v Guatemala 4-0 (International friendly)
USA v Honduras 2-1 (2015 Gold Cup)
USA v Haiti 1-0 (2015 Gold Cup)
Panama v USA 1-1 (2015 Gold Cup)
USA v Cuba 6-0 (2015 Gold Cup)
Team News:
The United States soccer team is flying high after the 6-0 hammering of Cuba, but no doubt they will have much bigger fish to fry as they battle in-form Jamaica for a place in what would be their sixth straight Gold Cup final.
Important defender John Brooks (15/2) returns from suspension, whilst full-back Timmy Chandler (25/1) is doubtful after suffering a knee bruise in the quarter-final.
Aron Johannsson (15/4) and Alejandro Bedoya (41/2) are almost certain to keep their places in the side following the very good showing against Cuba, with Clint Dempsey (117/47) brimming with confidence after scoring a hat-trick last time out.
Players to watch: Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Gyasi Zardes.
Probable starting line-up (4-1-3-2): Guzan – Chandler, Brooks, Gonzalez, Johnson – Beckerman – Zardes, Bradley, Bedoya – Johannsson, Dempsey.
Jamaica
Last 5 matches:
Argentina v Jamaica 1-0 (2015 Copa America)
Costa Rica v Jamaica 2-2 (2015 Gold Cup)
Jamaica v Canada 1-0 (2015 Gold Cup)
Jamaica v El Salvador 1-0 (2015 Gold Cup)
Haiti v Jamaica 0-1 (2015 Gold Cup)
Team News:
Jamaica worked really hard to pip Haiti to a place in the semi-final and coach Winfried Schafer is rightly worried that fitness could prove to be a problem when they take on USMNT, who had an easy match against Cuba last time out.
There are some good news for the experienced coach though, seeing as the likes of Darren Mattocks (27/8) and Je-Vaughn Watson (46/1) are both back to the side after suspension, and the latter will be especially important as the Reggae Boyz look to stop the likes of Michael Bradley and his fellow midfielders.
Full-back Demar Phillips (66/12) was forced to withdraw from the squad through a hamstring problem, following in the footsteps of centre-back Jermaine Taylor (83/0), who had previously left the squad through injury.
Players to watch: Jobi McAnuff, Garath McCleary, Giles Barnes.
Probable starting line-up (4-4-1-1): Thompson – Mariappa, Morgan, Hector, Lawrence – McCleary, Austin, Watson, McAnuff – Mattocks – Barnes.
United States v Jamaica betting odds & tips
*With USMNT having won last five Gold Cup semi-finals and winning all three matches against Jamaica at said tournament, it is hardly surprising that USA are 1.46 (23/50) to win this match.
*Nevertheless, the Reggae Boyz have shown a great deal of potential so far and they can be backed at 2.07 (15/14) to win with +1 Asian handicap.
*Seeing as both sides scored and created plenty of chances in each of their respective matches so far, you should know that both teams to score pays 2.55 (14/9).
