Gold Cup Semis – Best Bets

CONCACAF Gold Cup Semi-Finals Betting Preview

Tuesday, July 2 (FS1, 10:00 p.m. ET)
Haiti vs. Mexico

Haiti qualified for their first ever CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals with a stunning comeback win against Canada. They have been the tournament’s big revelation, topping their group ahead of highly-fancied Costa Rica, before going onto defeat the Canadians.

But their run is highly likely to come to an end against Mexico, the odds-on favourite to win the tournament at 4/5.

Mexico came through a scare to beat Costa Rica on penalties after a 1-1 draw, but they are ranked 83 places above their opponents in the FIFA rankings. Before their draw with Costa Rica, their three group games had resulted in 16 goals, reflecting a Gold Cup that has been defined by bold, attacking football, especially when compared with Copa America and the Africa Cup of Nations.

Raúl Jimenez and Uriel Antuna are both on four goals apiece, and that pair should simply have too much firepower for a Haiti side unused to playing against such quality.

Haiti, meanwhile, have scored nine in four games, with Frantzdy Pierrot and Duckens Nazon causing a lot of problems for opposition defences. Mexico are 2/9 to win the match with Haiti at 14/1, so the best way of squeezing value out of Mexico would be to back them to win and for both teams to score.

Tip: Mexico to win and both teams to score at 11/5
Prediction: Haiti 1-3 Mexico


Wednesday, July 3 (FS1, 9:00 p.m. ET)
USA vs. Jamaica

The US ended brave Curaçao’s adventure in the Gold Cup with a nervous 1-0 victory in the quarter-finals. They will now meet Jamaica, who scored a late penalty to edge out Panama 1-0.

This is the 14th time in 15 that the US have made the semi-finals. They defeated Jamaica in the final of the previous tournament.

The US have looked bright at times in this tournament, and a big positive is that this young side is yet to concede a goal, though their run to the semi-final has been relatively easy. But their 6-0 demolition of Trinidad and Tobago in particular showed that this team is going somewhere.

The home side are 8/15 to win this clas in normal time with Jamaica available at 6/1, and I expect Gregg Berhalter’s men to edge it, perhaps 2-0. Jamaica are missing key centre-back Damion Lowe through suspension, and that could make them a slightly easier nut to crack.

Now might be the right time to get with the US. Jamaica have not pushed on as much as they would have liked since reaching back to back finals, and they will probably fall one shorter here.

Tip: USA to win to nil at 6/5
Prediction: USA 2-0 Jamaica