Jamaica and Costa Rica meet in top of the table clash in Gold Cup

The Exploria Stadium in Orlando will be buzzing as fans watch their beloved teams go head-to-head in a Group C top of the table clash today.

Both Jamaica and Costa Rica are on maximum points from their opening two games. However, as it stands Costa Rica leads the group after scoring 5 goals as opposed to Jamaica’s 4.

With a top spot in Group C at stake, those in attendance will be anticipating a keen contest between the two. Jamaica’s record against Central American teams is impressive. They have amassed 11 wins, 3 losses and 5 draws. Despite that impressive record they have never beaten Costa Rica in a Gold Cup match.

Jamaica has been far from impressive so far in the tournament, but have managed to get the job done. This will be the fourth game between Costa Rica and Jamaica in the Gold Cup, with Los Ticos taking the slight lead with one win, and two draws between the two. The last time these two sides faced each other in the Gold Cup was in July 2015, a match that ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw at StubHub Center.

Both teams have dealt with some grueling tests to get to this point. After not winning a game in over a year and a half, Costa Rica relied upon their experience to get past Guadeloupe and Suriname. Veteran Celso Borges got his name on the scoresheet in both matches. He has the most Gold Cup appearances among his teammates, having played in 23 matches in the ’09, ’11, ’13, ’15, ’19 and ’21 editions of the tournament.

The midfielder has played against Jamaica eight times and scored two goals against the Reggae Boyz, in the 2015 Gold Cup and CONCACAF World Cup Russia 2018 Qualifier match. In the last five games that Borges has scored, Costa Rica has picked up five victories. His play will be crucial against Jamaica.

On the other hand, the new look Jamaica, one with the strongest pool of players in a long while, got passed Suriname 2-0 and Guadeloupe 2-1. Kemar Lawrence who will be looking for his first start of the tournament has the most Gold Cup appearances (17) surpassing Je-Vaughn Watson. Captain fantastic Andre Blake has made 8 brilliant saves so far and is expected to have an A game to shut Joel Campbell and Borges.

A victory for either side this afternoon will see them matching up against Canada on July 25th at the AT&T Stadium in Texas for the quarterfinals. The loser will play USA at the same venue, also on the 25th of July.

Jamaica’s record against the USA is not one to boast about, so coach Whitmore will be weary of that and will want to avoid playing them. Live wire substitute Junior Flemmings is upbeat about this game and had this to say, “I think we want to treat every opponent the same,” Flemmings told Concacaf.com.

“Every game you have to treat as a final because this is a tournament situation. We must put our foot on the pedal from the first minute and push for the result. We are going there for three points and three points only. It doesn’t matter who [we face].”

Another live wire substitute was striker Andre Gray who might be among the starters for today’s game. In addition to a likely start for Gray a few changes might be made in the middle of the park too. Devon Williams and Tyreek McGee might be in the mix for the Reggae Boyz.