Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
Mexico isn't the only team enjoying a dominant Gold Cup.
Jamaica improved to 3-0-0 after a 1-0 victory over Group B challenger Honduras to clinch the top spot in the group Monday night at Red Bull Arena. Jamaica didn't concede a goal in the group stage and finished with a +7 goal differential.
San Jose Earthquakes forward Ryan Johnson scored the lone goal for the Reggae Boyz, blasting a shot from distance off the crossbar and having the rebound ricochet off Honduras keeper Noel Valladares in the 36th minute.
In the group's other final game, Guatemala routed Grenada, 4-0, as MLSers Carlos Ruiz and Marco Pappa got on the board along with Jose Del Aguila and Carlos Gallardo. The win gives Guatemala four points. That and its +2 goal differential assure it of being one of the top two third-place finishers and a spot in the quarterfinals. For Grenada, the loss sealed its point-less tournament, and the Spice Boys finished with a -14 goal differential. The team also lost its captain, as Anthony Modeste announced his retirement from international soccer.
Highlights from both matches of Monday's matches are after the jump:
Jamaica awaits the second-place finisher from Group C in the quarterfinals. Honduras, which finished second in Group B with four points (and won the goal-differential tie-breaker with Guatemala), has a date with Group A runner-up Costa Rica in a marquee quarterfinal matchup. Guatemala will face either Mexico or the winner of Group C in its next match.
-----------------------
What did you think of Monday's matches? How dangerous do you think Jamaica can be? Who do you see taking the Costa Rica-Honduras quarterfinal?
Share your thoughts below.
