Guatemala vs Jamaica Predictions

• Only the USA (13) scored more goals in the Gold Cup group stages than Jamaica
• Guatemala haven’t made it beyond the quarter-final stage since 1996
• Demarai Gray has three goal involvements in his first three games for Jamaica

Reggae Boyz to keep the party going

An injection of Premier League talent has Jamaica dreaming of a maiden CONCACAF Gold Cup success and they should prove too strong for surprise package Guatemala in Sunday’s first quarter-final.

Jamaica finished second to the USA on goal difference in the group stage with two wins and a draw, and can count themselves unlucky not to have qualified for the knockout rounds with a 100 per cent record.

Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men missed a penalty against the USA, who then bagged a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw before the two-time Gold Cup runners-up went on to easily brush aside Trinidad and Tobago and St Kitts and Nevis in their next two matches.

A team packed full of Premier League and EFL regulars, including Leon Baily, Michail Antonio and Demarai Gray has proven too hot to handle for the majority of sides and Guatemala are likely to be the next side to find that out.

Men of Maize’s adventure to reach a dead end

Luis Fernando Tena’s men were 30 minutes from going out of the Gold Cup in the final round of group matches, only to stage a fightback to beat Guadeloupe 3-2 and secure top spot in Group D.

They edged out Canada for first place in their section, a fine achievement, and in Real Salt Lake’s Rubio Rubin they have a striker that can hurt Jamaica if given the chance.

Rubin has scored twice at the Gold Cup so far and could help boost the scoreline in this fixture, which looks likely to contain a few goals.

Jamaica’s firepower should overwhelm the Men of Maize’s defence and the Reggae Boyz are predicted to record a comfortable 3-1 victory.

Gray can add to Gold Cup haul

Demarai Gray could be amongst the goals in Cincinnati having performed well for Jamaica since swapping allegiances from England.

He bagged twice in the win over Trinidad & Tobago, putting him joint third on the Gold Cup top scorer charts.

The Everton man has registered six shots on goal at the Gold Cup and has the highest percentage of shots on target amongst the Jamaican players who have fired off more than one effort.