SAN JOSE, California — Bruce Arena, the recently reappointed head coach of the United States of America (USA) football team, has commended the Reggae Boyz after his team’s hard-fought 2-1 triumph in Wednesday night’s CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament final.

“Jamaica was a very difficult opponent,” Arena, who was winning his third Gold Cup tournament, said in his post-game press conference.

“We needed to score two great goals tonight to win, and we did. Give credit to Jozy (Altidore) and Jordan (Morris). Those are great goals.”

The USA went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Altidore curled home a beautiful free-kick from about 28 yards, just managing eclipse the flailing hands of substitute goalkeeper Dwayne Miller.

However, the Reggae Boyz tied the game five minutes into the second half when Kemar Lawrence of the New York Red Bulls linked up with another Major League Soccer player, Je-Vaughn Watson, for the New England Revolution man to outmuscle Jordan Morris at the back post before guiding home past a helpless Tim Howard in goal.

But with the Americans exerting tremendous pressure on the Jamaican defence in the closing stages, Morris made amends for his fault in his team’s concession but being in the right place at the right time to guide home the winner with just one minute remaining in full time.

“I applaud our team. I applaud Jamaica. Their defensive performance throughout the tournament was outstanding. They’re hard to play against. Their goalkeeping was excellent,” added Arena, who used the rules of the tournament to reinforce his team with the addition of six of their most senior players including Michael Bradley, who was later awarded the Gold Ball for player of the tournament, despite playing in just three games; Clint Dempsey, who scored a goal to join Landon Donovan on 56 as the USA’s leading all-time scorer, as well as veteran Altidore.

“The Gold Cup is important. I think if you’re in it, you’ve got to be in it to win. We accomplished that, so that’s a real plus,” insisted Arena, who also used the tournament to prepare for two World Cup qualifiers in September.

The USA were the superior team for much of the first half with Jamaica displaying their stingy defence, which had conceded just twice in five games entering the final, their second consecutive after upsetting the USA 2-1 two years ago on their way to their first Gold Cup final appearance.

But in the 19th minute, misfortune struck the Reggae Boyz, when their inspirational captain Andre Blake was forced to leave the field injured after producing another excellent double save.

He first repelled the fierce drive from Altidore, who was given time and space to shoot, and in trying to smother the rebound from the onrushing Darlington Nagbe, the Philadelphia Union first choice got his right hand ripped by Nagbe’s cleats between his fingers. He was eventually treated with seven stitches and happily there was no fracture.

Blake later won the Golden Glove award as the best goalkeeper of the tournament, and joined two other Reggae Boyz — Jermaine Taylor and Kemar Lawrence — in the Gold Cup XI.

“Unfortunately, Blake got injured. I don’t even know the name of the second keeper, he was excellent, he did a great job. Give credit to them,” said Arena.

Incidentally, Miller, who replaced Blake in the 23rd minute, was the starting goalkeeper in the 2015 edition of the Gold Cup, but he suffered whiplash in a challenge, which ended his tournament.

And at practice on Tuesday morning, he jarred his right ankle in an attempt at saving a powerful Taylor penalty, and was in some discomfort even on the morning of the final. But he was determined not to miss two Gold Cup finals on the trot.

— Ian Burnett