Dujuan Richards, who will join Chelsea next season following his 18th birthday, came on for the final six minutes of Jamaica’s 3-0 defeat to Mexico in Las Vegas. He replaced West Ham’s Michail Antonio to join other Premier League players Demarai Gray, Leon Bailey and Bobby Decordova-Reid in attack.

Most of the damage was done by then, with two Mexican goals in the opening half-hour leaving Jamaica with an uphill challenge they could not surmount.

It was Richards’ third appearance of this Gold Cup. He also came on in the big group stage wins against Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Kitts and Nevis, scoring his first senior goal in the former. The 17-year-old now has six caps to his name.

In the other semi-final, USA lost to Panama on penalties with Gaga Slonina an unused substitute. The goalkeeper has been on the bench for each of America’s five games, with the holders failing to make the final for the first time since 2015.

Last night they drew 1-1 with Panama after extra-time before losing 6-5 on penalties, having beaten Canada by the same method in the quarter-finals three days earlier.