CONCACAF Gold Cup: Panama and Mexico likely to go the distance

USA 1.47 v Jamaica 9.40; The Draw 4.60
Wednesday, 23:00
Live on Betfair Live Video and BT Sport 1

Jamaica haven't played anyone on USA's level - some would argue that USA are on a level of their own in CONCACAF at present - but they have performed commendably thus far to reach their first semi-final this century, going unbeaten and winning their latest three games without conceding.

There is a fair chance of that evaporating into irrelevance against the USMNT, who have not just contested semi-finals at the last five Gold Cups but triumphed in 90 minutes on every occasion.

Yet while the Stars and Stripes consistently deliver, they are rarely at their most dominant at this stage, prevailing 3-1, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1 and 2-1 in the aforementioned editions, so this shouldn't be as one-sided as their 6-0 quarter-final dismissal of Cuba.

USA haven't fired more than twice in any of their last six clashes with Jamaica. Four of those yielded under 2.5 goals and their two matches before thrashing Cuba both failed to leap that hurdle too. As the Reggae Boyz' most recent three encounters ducked under 1.5, a low score seems likely.

Recommended Bet: Back under 2.5 goals @ 1.73

Panama 6.60 v Mexico 1.70; The Draw 3.75
Thursday, 02:00
Live on Betfair Live Video and BT Sport 1

If the CONCACAF Gold Cup has always been about USA and Mexico, with the pair taking 11 out of 12 titles between them and colliding in three of the past four finals, Panama v Mexico has developed into a riveting secondary spectacle.

The story arc began two years ago in this competition when Panama twice beat the confederation's historic leading force, firstly in their tournament opener and then again in the semi-finals to end the streak of USA v Mexico finals.

Jurgen Klinsmann's side went on to prevent them from receiving the trophy for the first time, before helping Mexico exact the cruellest possible revenge three months later.

On the final day of World Cup 2014 qualifying, Panama twice led already-qualified USA, so were on course to claim the play-off place at Mexico's expense, only for Graham Zusi and Aron Johannsson to strike in injury time to knock them out and send their long-term enemies through instead.

Anyway, the purpose of that preamble was to portray that this isn't a mere aperitif for an inevitable USA v Mexico final, this is an increasingly competitive rivalry - the previous six meetings produced two wins apiece and two draws - and the favourites aren't the bankers that their 1.70 odds imply.

Mexico didn't defeat any of their last three opponents in 90 minutes and Panama haven't lost at this CONCACAF Gold Cup, drawing all four of their fixtures 1-1.

Recommended Bets:
Lay Mexico to win @ 1.71
Back the 1-1 draw @ 7.40