(FIELD LEVEL MEDIA) Amari’i Bell’s 51st-minute strike propelled Jamaica to a 1-0 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal win over Guatemala on Sunday in Cincinnati.
It was an even game before Jamaica was able to break through. Demarai Gray put a short through ball to Bell, who caught Guatemala’s defense sleeping and ran behind them unmarked. He slotted it home in the bottom left corner, his first career international goal.
Guatemala, winners of Group D, controlled most of the match, having 57 percent of the possession and totaling six shots on goal.
It seemed as if Guatemala would break through in the 79th minute, but Andre Blake pulled off a remarkable save. Blake made a diving stop to his left to push out a near point-blank header.
Jamaica is through to the semifinals for the fourth time in the past five Gold Cups. Jamaica will play Mexico in the semifinals on July 12.
