Jamaica’s Reggae Boys went down 3-1 to the United States in their Concacaf Gold Cup semi-final clash at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee to miss out on a record third straight appearance in the final.
The United States opened the scoring in the ninth minute through Weston McKennie who smashed a shot past Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake from inside the 18 after a slight touch from Jozy Altidore put the ball in his path.
In the 16th minute, the match was halted due to lightning, a delay that lasted 88 minutes in total.
Once the game was resumed, Jamaica came into the contest and almost equalized through Junior Flemmings, his blistering shot from 25 yards forcing U.S. GK Zack Steffen into a save.
In the 52nd minute, Christian Pulisic put the U.S. 2-0 up, pouncing on a rebound after a Jordan Morris shot was parried into traffic by Blake.
Jamaica pulled one back in the 69th minute when Shamar Nicholson headed home a cross from the right side from Leon Bailey, which was the first goal conceded by the U.S. at the Gold Cup.
But Pulisic doubled his tally in the 87th minute, again knocking home a rebound from close range, this time after a shot from Paul Arriola.
The Reggae Boyz are expected to return home today while the United States and Mexico get ready for their sixth meeting in the final when they face-off in Chicago on Sunday.