Gold Cup Betting – Mexico vs. Jamaica in Final
Mexico (-105) vs Jamaica (+220), Draw (+290)
Most people agree that Mexico should not have reached this stage of the 2015 Gold Cup. The beneficiaries of favorable calls for two straight games, El Tri will look to turn their good fortune into a tournament title tonight when they face a surprising Jamaican team at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia (7:30 PM Eastern). Also on the line is a ticket to the 2017 Confederation Cup.
The Mexicans took advantage of a ghost penalty in the last minute of extra time against Costa Rica in the quarterfinals to earn a 1-0 win, and then did it again in the last minute of regulation against Panama to reach the final.
Jamaica, on the other hand, have truly earned their spot in this year’s final. First, the “Reggae Boyz” emerged as surprise group winners (topping heavily favored Costa Rica as well as co-hosts Canada in Group B); then they eliminated Haiti, 1-0, despite carrying only 38-percent of the possession; last, and most impressively, the team knocked off the tournament favorites, the United States (2-1). Against the Americans, Jamaica showed strength on both sides of the ball, defending with order against the Americans’ pressure, but also attacking aggressively when the opportunity arose.
If the Jamaicans can play like that again, they will be a massive headache for Mexico in the final; manager Winfried Schäfer is one of the most experienced, more intelligent coaches in the tournament, and has game plans have given his team not only a shot to win every game, but a place in the final for the first time in Jamaica’s history.
But as impressive as Jamaica’s run has been, the team has lost seven of the last eight head-to-head against El Tri (dating back to 1998). And, while Mexico have been far from their best at this year’s tournament, they boast the more skilled roster and are getting the calls at the right time. Betting-wise, taking El Tri to win by one looks like the best option.
Pick: Mexico -105.
(Photo credit: Marcello Casal Jr/Agência Brasil ([1]) [CC BY 3.0 br (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/br/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons. Photo has been cropped.)
Zack is a tour guide whose favorite sports are football, baseball, and golf. He enjoys giving obnoxious commentary during games and hopes to some day write a book about sports. His favorite underdog victory was the Diamondbacks beating the Yankees in game 7 of the World Series.
