LOS ANGELES, California — Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz will look to create a major upset when they collide with defending champions Mexico at what is expected to be a partisan crowd at the famed Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, today.

Kick-off is set for 6:00 pm here (8:00 pm Jamaica time).

Today’s game is a repeat of the 2015 edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, when the Mexicans put a damper on Jamaica’s first-ever appearance at the regional showpiece final with a 3-1 victory.

It also marks the second meeting of the teams in this year’s renewal, after both had battled to a 0-0 result nine days ago in the preliminary stage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.

And coincidentally, the two also met at today’s venue in front of a near-capacity 90,000 spectators in last year’s Copa Centenario, when the Mexicans triumphed 2-0.

The Reggae Boyz will start as clear underdogs, but Head Coach Theodore Whitmore remains undaunted and he hopes his players produce one of the best performances of their lives.

“It’s a semi-final and I think the guys have done everything to reach to this crucial point, and there’s no turning back. so I just think we have to continue improving, remain confident, don’t get complacent, and look forward to one of the best games of their lives tomorrow,” Whitmore told the Jamaica Observer shortly after completing the team’s training session at Stubhub Center in Carson yesterday morning.

On their way to the semi-finals for the second-consecutive edition, Jamaica defeated Curacao 2-0, drew 0-0 with Mexico before playing El Salvador to a 1-1 result to finish second in Group C behind Mexico, who defeated El Salvador 3-1, and Curacao 2-0, before edging Honduras 1-0 in their quarter-final game.

Jamaica will be without central midfielder Kevon Lambert, who is serving a one-game ban for yellow card accumulation, and Whitmore has included Montego Bay United defender Ladale Richie to fill the gap as he limits the number of changes to the starting team from the last game.

“We don’t want to make a lot of changes from the last game, so Ladale will come in for Lambert,” confirmed Whitmore, who has kept the same starting team more or less.

And throughout yesterday’s tactical session, which included Oniel Fisher, who had been struggling with a right hamstring strain, Whitmore replaced Shaun Francis on the left flank with Ricardo Morris, and he also withdrew striker Romario Williams and replaced him with defender Sergio Campbell in the heart of midfield alongside Richie, as he explored different combinations.

“It all depends on the build-up of the game tomorrow (today), we have to look at options to give ourselves choices, so we have to look at one or two combinations,” explained the coach, now at his third Gold Cup tournament, having been eliminated at the group stage in 2009; beaten 0-2 by the United States of America at the quarter-finals in 2011; and now at the semi-finals.

Mexico have had their troubles in this tournament with their under-strength team, but assistant head coach Pompilio Paez is of the view that they will find the key to unlock the Jamaicans’ resolute defence in the Rose Bowl.

“We already know Jamaica and know our players a lot better,” he said.

He added: “We respect the opponent, but we think we have sufficient arms to defeat Jamaica and be in the final.”

Meanwhile, Whitmore is hoping that his team puts together a full and balanced game, which could spring a surprise on the seven-time Gold Cup winners.

“We have to remain disciplined, we have to remain compact… we have to come with our ‘A’ game in terms of attacking. I think one of our biggest let-downs is not keeping the ball properly in games and we saw that against Canada.

“We need to keep the ball and keep it in the right areas,” he said.

Whitmore is looking to strikers Darren Mattocks and Romario Williams, each of whom has scored twice. Mattocks was on target in the opening game and against El Salvador, while adding two assists, and Williams has found the net against Curacao and Canada.

And the combination play is getting better, and Mattocks, in particular, appears sharp and was extremely unlucky not to have hit the target against Canada on last.

The Jamaicans ended yesterday’s session at Stubhub Center with penalty kicks, with all players, except the three goalkeepers, striking from the 12-yard spot. All but three or four scored.

Today’s game could end in penalties if the game is tied after full time. There will be no extra time.

Today’s winners advance to Wednesday’s final slated for Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, where the champions pocket US$1 million in prize money and the losers collect US$500,000.

Today’s losing semi-finalists walk away with US$150,000 in prize money and head home tomorrow.