Matthew Hoppe’s 1st goal lifts US over Jamaica into Gold Cup semifinals

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Matthew Hoppe scored his first international goal on a header in the 83rd minute and the United States beat Jamaica 1-0 Sunday night to reach the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Hoppe — who used to play for Barca’s Residency Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona, and was making his second international appearance — nodded home a cross from Cristian Roldan from just inside the 6-yard box, and the U.S. eliminated the 45th-ranked Reggae Boyz for the third straight Gold Cup.

Jamaica featured left winger Junior Flemmings and center back Damion Lowe, both of whom played for Phoenix Rising FC in 2020.

The 20th-ranked U.S. will face Qatar — an invited guest ahead of its hosting next year’s World Cup — on Thursday in Austin, Texas.

It will be the 11th consecutive Gold Cup semifinal for the Americans, who last won in 2017 when they beat Jamaica in the final.

Canada will play defending champion Mexico in Houston on Thursday in the other semifinal, with all four semifinalists being the next two World Cup hosts with the U.S., Mexico and Canada jointly hosting in 2026.

Goalkeeper Matt Turner had his third shutout in four matches.

U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter, using a mostly junior varsity roster, started just three players who see substantial playing time when first-choice players are on hand: Kellyn Acosta, Sebastian Lletget and Paul Arriola.

Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest, Zack Steffen and Josh Sargent were among the regulars who skipped the tournament for vacation followed by European preseasons.

In the opening game of the doubleheader, No. 70 Canada beat 50th-ranked Costa Rica 2-0 to reach its first Gold Cup semifinal since 2007, when it lost 2-1 to the U.S.

Junior Hoilett scored in the 18th minute, his 13th international goal and second of the tournament, and Stephen Eustáquio added his third goal of the tournament in the 69th after the ball rebounded off Francisco Calvo and into his path.