Former Dynamo players to face USA in Gold Cup final

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Two former Houston Dynamo players are headed to the 2017 Gold Cup final this week with tournament underdog Jamaica.

Defender Jermaine Taylor and midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson started for the Reggae Boyz Sunday night in a stunning 1-0 semifinal victory over perennial contender Mexico.

A free kick by Kemar Lawrence in the 87th minute was the game-winner for the Caribbean island nation, which will face the United States for the championship Wednesday night in Santa Clara, Calif.

Taylor, now with Minnesota United, spent his first five MLS season with the Dynamo, making more than 100 appearances on the team's backline from 2011 to 2015.

Watson also began his MLS career in Houston, playing in 41 games before being traded to FC Dallas in 2013 and his current club, New England Revolution, in 2016.

Both players were part of Dynamo squads that won back-to-back Eastern Conference titles in 2011 and 2012, the farthest the franchise has gone in the postseason since its 2007 MLS Championship.

Opposite Taylor and Watson, Dynamo forward Erik Torres got his second career Gold Cup start for El Tri on Sunday.



Jamaican defender Jermaine Taylor (left), who played five seasons with the Houston Dynamo between 2011 and 2015, will face the United States in the 2017 Gold Cup final Wednesday night. Jamaican defender Jermaine Taylor (left), who played five seasons with the Houston Dynamo between 2011 and 2015, will face the United States in the 2017 Gold Cup final Wednesday night. Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Houston Chronicle Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Former Dynamo players to face USA in Gold Cup final 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The 24-year-old, who leads the Dynamo with 12 goals this season, registered two shots on goal and received a first-half yellow card before being substituted in the 45th minute.

Jamaica, which entered this year's tournament with 33/1 odds to win it all, will attempt to capture its first Gold Cup title in team history against an American side that downed Costa Rica 2-0 in Arlington on Saturday.

In the last Gold Cup meeting between the two sides two years ago, Jamaica shocked the U.S. with a 2-1 win to advance to its first-ever title match. The countries have only met once since then, when the U.S. won an international friendly, 1-0, this February.