Guatemala vs Jamaica betting tips: Gold Cup preview, predictions, team news & odds

Guatemala vs Jamaica: Head to head statistics

Guatemala vs Jamaica recommended bets

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Guatemala vs Jamaica

Jamaica to win 2-1 against Guatemala- 8/1!

At 8/1, a £10 bet would return £90!

Guatemala vs Jamaica

July 09, 2023

10:00 pm GMT+1

Guatemala vs Jamaica match preview

These two teams both impressed during the group stages, but only one will reach the semi-finals.

Before this year, Guatemala hadn’t won a CONCACAF Gold Cup match for 12 years, last claiming multiple victories at the same edition in 1985.

Both of these facts are no more, with los Chapines accumulating seven points in Group D, advancing in first place.

Luis Fernando Tena’s team beat Cuba in their group opener in Fort Lauderdale, Darwin Lom the only scorer, before holding Canada to a credible goalless draw in Houston.

Nevertheless, due to their inferior goal difference, la Azul y Blanco went into their final group game against Guadeloupe knowing they simply had to win.

Well, they certainly achieved this the hard way, falling behind twice in New Jersey, with Rubio Rubín twice equalising.

Then, with just 14 minutes to play, Carlos Mejía fired Guatemala in front for the first time on the night, scoring an absolute stunner.

But, with only three minutes remaining, Marlon Sequen was penalised for a handball and referee Juan Gabriel Calderón pointed to the penalty spot.

If Guadeloupe scored, they’d be through and Guatemala would be eliminated, but goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen pulled off a miraculous save, with his team hanging on for a famous 3-2 victory at Red Bull Arena.

So now, la a Furia Azul are, potentially, 90 minutes away from reaching the semi-finals of this competition for the first time in 27 years.

In their way though is a very impressive Jamaican outfit, who most would consider favourites to advance ahead of kick off in Cincinnati.

The Reggae Boyz came agonisingly close to a famous victory over the U.S. in their group opener, taking the lead through Damion Lowe at Solider Field, only for the hosts to equalise two minutes from time.

After that though, admittedly against substantially weaker opposition, Heimir Hallgrímsson’s team could not be stopped, demolishing Trinidad & Tobago 4-1 and then Saint Kitts & Nevis 5-0.

Jon Russell, Di’Shon Bernard, Daniel Johnson and Cory Burke all on target in Santa Clara last Sunday, as Jamaica missed out on top spot by virtue of goal difference: +8 compared to USA’s +12.

Nevertheless, the Reggae Boyz showed more than enough, especially in the draw with the United States, to suggest that they’ll be a force in the knockout stages.

Jamaica did reach back-to-back Gold Cup Finals in 2015 and 2017, and it would be no great surprise to see them lining up at SoFi Stadium next Sunday, although their path to LA is certainly a challenging one.

Whoever does win this tie in Ohio will take on Mexico in the semi-finals on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

So, will it be, arguably, the most famous night in Guatemalan football history, or will Jamaica be simply too strong at TQL Stadium?

Guatemala team news

Talisman Rubio Rubín picked up an injury in the group opener against Cuba, so sat out the draw with Canada, but made a timely returned on Tuesday, emphasising his importance by scoring twice.

Carlos Mejía’s stunning winner against Guadeloupe should see him come into the XI, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who made his international debut on matchday one, on the other flank.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Hagen, Herrera, Samayoa, Pinto, Ardón; Castellanos, Saravia, Mendez-Laing, Galindo, Mejía; Rubín.

Jamaica team news

Damion Lowe was booked in Jamaica’s first two group games, so sat out last Sunday’s drubbing of St Kitts & Nevis, but will return at centre-back here.

Goalkeeper Andre Blake and winger Bobby Decordova-Reid were both rested in San Francisco but will return here, in place of Jahmali Waite and Kaheem Parris respectively.

Michail Antonio, Leon Bailey and Jamaica’s new recruit Demarai Gray will complete a fabulous front four to be feared.

Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1): Blake; Lembikisa, Bernard, Lowe, Bell; Lambert, Latibeaudiere, Bailey, Decordova-Reid, Gray; Antonio.

CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals results & fixtures

CONCACAF Gold Cup Group A table

CONCACAF Gold Cup Group D table

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Guatemala vs Jamaica betting tips: CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final preview, predictions, team news and odds