San Diego (AFP) – Jamaica came alive in the second half on Sunday to score two goals that gave them a 2-0 win over Curacao in the Group C opener in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Romario Williams in the 58th minute and Darren Mattocks in the 73rd, gave the Reggae Boyz the first three points in a group that also includes defending champions Mexico and El Salvador — who were next up in the day’s double-header in Southern California.
For Jamaica, the victory was a measure of revenge for their 2-1 defeat to Curacao in the June 25 final of the Caribbean Cup.
Jamaica were runners-up in the Gold Cup in 2015, falling to Mexico in the final after eliminating the United States in the semi-finals.
Keeper Andre Blake kept a listless Jamaica in the contest with several fine saves before Williams opened the scoring with an awkwardly angled shot that found its way inside the near post.
Substitute Mattocks doubled the score in the 73rd with a sharp left-footed blast.
