Bethlehem Steel FC defender makes Gold Cup debut for Jamaica

After watching from the sidelines in their first three group games, Bethlehem Steel FC defender Jamoi Topey got to make a cameo as a late sub in Jamaica’s 1-0 quarterfinal win over Panama in the Concacaf Gold Cup.

The instructions were simple to the 19-year-old center back: go into the midfield and defend for the final three minutes.

Topey didn’t end up having much to do sitting in front of the back line as an extra defensive midfielder, but with Damion Lowe now set to miss the semifinal against the U.S. on Wednesday in Nashville because of yellow card accumulation he could be called on again.

His appearance was his second for the senior national team after making his debut off the bench in a friendly against Costa Rica in March.

“Very happy for him, he’s got a lot of potential,” Reggae Boyz captain Andre Blake said. “It’s very good for him at his young age to be part of the mix and with time he’s only going to get better.”

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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