USA 1-0 Jamaica (14 Nov 2024) Game Analysis

Ricardo Pepi scored from Christian Pulisic‘s pass in the fifth minute, Matt Turner saved a penalty and that USA beat Jamaica 1-0 Thursday night at Kingston in a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal first leg, the Americans’ first competitive game under coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The second part of the series on total goals is on Monday in St. Louis, with the winner advancing to a semifinal on March 20 in Inglewood, California. The USA won the first three editions of the tournament.

Jamaica finished a man short after Mason Holgate received his second yellow card for pushing Brandon Vazquez in the 86th, 10 minutes after his first kick Gianluca Busio.

Pulisic sparked the goal when he received a pass from Johnny Cardoso and dribbled up the middle of the field. Pepi burst past Amari’i Bell, ran onto the ball and took a touch, then mistimed his shot but slotted the ball past goalkeeper Andre Blake’s far post for his 12th goal in 32 caps.

Pulisic became the 33rd player to play 75 US caps. Pepi is the fourth American to score 12 international goals before the age of 22, following Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore and Pulisic.

Joe Scally’s giveaway led to Jamaica being awarded a penalty by Costa Rican referee Juan Gabriel Calderon. Casey Palmer transferred to Shamar Nicholsonthat spun around Mark McKenzie and was pulled down by Turner. The goalkeeper dived to his right to turn away Demarai Gray’s spot kick in the 14th minute, Turner’s third save in eight penalties while in the U.S. goal.

---

Malik Tillman replaced an injured Cardoso in the 20th minute.

Pochettino took over for the United States after Gregg Berhalter was fired for a first-round exit from the Copa America and started with a pair of friendlies last month.

Pochettino made six changes to the starting line-up from last month’s 2-0 loss at Mexicodeployment of McKenzie and midfielders Weston McKennie, Tanner Tessmann and Cardoso together with Pulsiic and Pepi.

McKennie was shown a yellow card in the 50th minute for pulling down Leon Bailey from the back of the shirt. Anthony Robinson and Bailey received yellow cards in the 69th after the teams got into an offensive confrontation.

Aidan Morris misses both games after spraining his right knee in practice. Brenden Aaronson had flu-like symptoms and skipped the trip and instead traveled to Missouri ahead of the second leg.

Tim Weah served the second match of his two-game suspension for a red card in the Copa America for beating Panama’s Roderick Miller.

Jamaica forward Michael Antonio was suspended for accumulating yellow cards. Reggae Boyz is led by former England manager Steve McClaren, hired after they won 0-3 at the Copa America.