Bulls Abroad: Gold Cup Quarterfinals Action; Lawrence & Miller

Jamaica 1 - 0 Haiti

The Jamaican national team defeated Haiti 1-0 on Sunday in Baltimore, MD in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup.  The lone goal of the game came in the 7th minute when Giles Barnes took a sharp angled shot that deflected off Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide to go in the back of the net.  Haiti fought valiantly, but couldn't find their way to bring the game back even.  Jamaica withstood a barrage at the end of the game, but their defensive efforts were enough to advance to the semifinals.

Haiti held the advantage in shots (28 to 12), passes (427 to 267) and possession (62.3% to 37.7%), but couldn't break through the Jamaican defense.

Jamaica will face the United States on Wednesday in Atlanta for the semifinals of the Gold Cup.  The US just came off a 6-0 dismantling of Cuba earlier Sunday evening, so Jamaica will need to play superb ball in order to make the finals.

New York Red Bulls defenseman Kemar Lawrence went a full 90 minutes for the fourth time this Gold Cup for Jamaica.  He recorded one shot on goal and a clean sheet.  Jamaica hasn't allowed a goal since their first groups stage game against Costa Rica on July 8th.  This is their 3rd straight 1-0 victory in the Gold Cup.

Mexico 1 - 0 Costa Rica

No other way to put it.... Los Ticos got CONCACAF'd.  The Sunday night quarterfinal game at MetLife Stadium was 0-0 through regulation and went into extra time.  Both teams were back and forth the entire night, including during the extra session.

Just when it looked like the referee was going to blow the whistle in the 122nd minute to send it to penalty kicks, Mexico played a long ball into the Costa Rican box.  Oribe Peralta seemed to have went for a header and fell forward, claiming that RBNY defenseman Roy Miller shoved him in the back with a forearm.  The referee awarded the game-winning penalty kick to El Tri.  Andrés Guardado converted the kick to send them to Atlanta with a date with Panama in the semifinals.  Panama defeated Trinidad & Tobago 6-5 in PKs, after a 1-1 draw a.e.t.

Miller came on in the 74th minute as a substitute for Bryan Ruiz.  In his 41 minutes of work, his team almost held Mexico scoreless... almost.  Including Miller's, Costa Rica was shown six yellow cards to Mexico's five, making it the most colorful game during this Gold Cup.  Miller will return to the Red Bulls just in time for their busy non-league schedule this week.