United States striker Aron Johannsson is growing in confidence as the defending champions edge closer to back-to-back CONCACAF Gold Cup titles.
USA set up a semi-final showdown with Jamaica in Atlanta on Wednesday after seeing off Cuba 6-0 last week.
Johannsson was handed a starting role alongside Gold Cup top goalscorer Clint Dempsey in the absence of Jozy Altidore, who was omitted from the squad due to a lack of fitness, and netted USA s third goal in the quarter-finals in Baltimore on Saturday.
For a striker to get his first goal of the tournament, it s huge, Johannsson told ussoccer.com.
Obviously I would have hoped it would come sooner, but to score in the knockout stage is always good.
USA captain Michael Bradley was the architect of Johannsson s stunning breakthrough goal at the tournament.
Bradley lofted a ball through to the AZ Alkmaar frontman, who caught Cuba goalkeeper Disovelis Guerra off his line with a sublime chip.
It s important to keep growing and get the opportunity to score goals, and when you have them put them in, said Klinsmann.
That s how he was throughout the game – he was hungry, he was waiting for the next opportunity.
That builds more confidence, it gives you a bit more standing in the group and when somebody is leaving a camp and somebody else is coming in, it s about repositioning the ranking in the team. He wants to move up in the ranking, there s no doubt about it.
Jamaica are set to compete their third semi-final following their 1-0 victory against Haiti.
Houston Dynamo striker Giles Barnes was the hero for Jamaica beaten semi-finalists in 1993 and 1998 with his sixth-minute goal the difference at M T Bank Stadium.
I am on cloud nine, and so proud of my team, my country and hopefully we can continue, Barnes said.
We want to just go into the final and take it to a new level… going into the semi-finals with this team, my brothers, is the stuff dreams are made of.
USA have won their past three matches against Jamaica, who last emerged victorious 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in 2012.
