Football
Associated Press 7y

'Nervous' Jordan Morris thrilled after netting winner for U.S. at Gold Cup

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Jordan Morris admitted he was "nervous" before scoring the 88th-minute winner for the United States in its 2-1 Gold Cup final win against Jamaica on Wednesday night.

Morris, 22, lost his mark Je-Vaughn Watson on the second-half corner kick that resulted in Jamaica's equalizer in the 50th minute after Jozy Altidore had given the U.S. the lead in the first half.

The goal gave the Americans a sixth Gold Cup win and also helped the team avenge a semifinal loss to the Reggae Boyz in the CONCACAF cup competition two years earlier.

After the match, Morris said: "I was nervous. It was my guy that scored on the goal, so I was trying to make up for it any way that I could.

"Obviously. I take responsibility for that. But luckily I could put one in the back of the net."

The U.S. will now turn its focus to qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with Bruce Arena's team sitting in third place in the CONCACAF table behind leaders Mexico and second-place Costa Rica.

However, U.S. captain Michael Bradley said Russia was the furthest thing from his mind and that of the players after his team took home the trophy.

"We're not worried one bit about World Cup qualifying today. I can promise you that," Bradley said. "This was about a group of guys winning a trophy and that's been the only goal."

The U.S faces Costa Rica in a rematch of the Gold Cup semifinal on Sept. 1 at Harrison, New Jersey, and plays four days later at Honduras as qualifying rolls on. The Hex concludes against Panama on Oct. 6 in Orlando, Florida and at Trinidad and Tobago four days after.

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