Doug McIntyre
Football journalist
The United States males’s nationwide workforce arrange an early objective from Ricardo Pepi in Thursday’s 1-0 win over Jamaica, giving the Americans a big lead heading into the second leg of their Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals in opposition to two video games and a complete objectives gained. the Reggae Boyz.
Less than 5 minutes after kick-off, US star Christian Pulisic set Pepi behind the hosts’ backline with an attractive by ball, and the striker did the remaining with an ideal end previous the goalkeeper Andre Blake:
It’s solely the second time in eight tries that the USMNT has gained a aggressive match in Jamaica. The two groups will meet once more on Monday with a spot in subsequent 12 months’s semifinals at stake.
Here are some transient ideas on Thursday’s competitors.
Game of the sport
Pepi hit the objective expertly, as he has carried out on virtually each event during the last two years for his nation and Dutch membership PSV Eindhoven.
But it was Pulisic who created the possibility by beating two Jamaican markers and discovering Pepi, who gave the guests a lead they’d by no means relinquish.
Turning level
The momentum the United States had after taking the lead was virtually squandered in brief order when goalkeeper Matt Turner fouled Jamaican ahead Shamar Nicholson lower than 10 minutes after Pepi’s shot. The referee (rightly) factors to the penalty spot, however Turner redeems himself with a spectacular one-handed save to protect the lead.
The historic American #1 made one other key save within the second half, blocking a nook kick.
Key statistic
21-year-old Pepi’s objective was his twelfth in 32 profession appearances. He turned the fourth USMNT participant to attain that many objectives earlier than his twenty second birthday, placing the Texan in some extraordinary firm: the opposite three to perform the feat are program greats Pulisic, Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan.
What is the way forward for Jamaica?
The decisive rematch Monday at City Park in St. Louis, Missouri. As troublesome as opponents have been in opposition to the Americans on house soil through the years, the Reggae Boyz have struggled within the United States, incomes only one win on American soil in a sport that mattered: the 2015 Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal that upset their hosts house of the event.
What is the way forward for the USMNT?
Winning away at Concafaf is not simple, which makes Thursday’s end result spectacular for brand new coach Mauricio Pochettino in his third outing accountable for the United States.
However, whereas a draw on Monday might be sufficient to ship the three-time defending champions again to the Nations League remaining 4, USMNT followers can ensure that Pochettino will impress upon his gamers the significance of sending the Jamaicans away within the match return. with a dominant, multi-goal victory.
Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports. He was a workers author at ESPN and Yahoo Sports earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports in 2021 United States males’s and ladies’s nationwide groups on the FIFA World Cup on 5 continents. Follow him @By Doug McIntyre.
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