A pair of players with a lot to prove lifted the U.S. men’s national team to a 1-0 victory over Jamaica on Thursday night in the first leg of a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal.

Two days before they faced Jamaica, American goalkeeper Matt Turner and forward Ricardo Pepi spoke to media members. Both knew they had important opportunities in this November international window, their second under head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

For Turner, who has yet to play at club level, it was about keeping his starting job in goal.

“I’m just going to keep plugging away, keep controlling what I can control right now, and when my number is called, I’m going to play the best I can,” Turner said.

For Pepi, who has increased his minutes for PSV in the Netherlands this season, injuries at the striker position meant he was likely to get a rare start for the US.

“I’m now at a point in my career where I’m ready,” Pepi said on Tuesday. “I’m ready to start, to get more playing time. I feel like I’ve shown that, both at my club and with the national team.”

Pochettino called up both players to start against Jamaica on Thursday, and both came through with standout performances. Pepi scored the opening goal in the fifth minute, and Turner saved a penalty in the 14th minute to help the US secure a victory over the Reggae Boyz, clearing a clear path to advance to the semifinals in March.

The US has won all three previous CONCACAF Nations League tournaments.

The only goal of the evening was scored by Christian Pulisic. In the fifth minute, the American star picked up the ball in midfield, split a few defenders off the dribble and delivered a pass behind the line to Pepi. The PSV striker grabbed the back post to beat Andre Blake and give the US the lead.

Ricardo Pepi celebrates his goal against Jamaica. (John Dorton/Getty Images)

With Folarin Balogun (shoulder), Josh Sargent (groin) and Haji Wright (ankle) all injured, it was an important goal for Pepi, who has scored consistently from the bench but wanted to show he can perform as a starter. The goal made Pepi the fourth player in USMNT history to score 12 goals before turning 22, joining Pulisic, Landon Donovan and Jozy Altidore.

However, seven minutes after Pepi’s goal, the US almost gave Jamaica the equalizer. Right-back Joe Scally had an almost costly giveaway in the defensive third, setting up a Jamaican counter. Centre-back Tim Ream was rounded by Shamar Nicholson, and Mark McKenzie went softly in after a tackle that Nicholson played through. That forced Turner to come out, but he tripped Nicholson as he tried to make the save.

The referee whistled for a penalty. Turner dived to his right to make a crucial save on Demarai Gray’s penalty and maintain the one-goal lead.

It was a typical CONCACAF game. The pitch in Jamaica looked soft and slow, with patches of grass rising throughout the first half. Jamaica rarely threatened the US goal, and the US largely controlled possession.

Pochettino has made some interesting tactical adjustments. He started Johnny Cardoso and Tanner Tessmann in a double-pivot midfield, with Weston McKennie playing as number 10 and Yunus Musah starting again on the right.

When Cardoso left the match injured in the 21st minute, Malik Tillman came on as a substitute. Yet he played deeper in midfield, while McKennie remained in his higher midfield position. Historically, those two would have swapped places in midfield, with McKennie playing more as a No. 8 and Tillman as a No. 10.

Jamaica had two good moments in the second half. Mason Holgate looked to have an easy finish in the 66th minute but Yunus Musah made a huge sliding tackle to deny the chance. The ensuing corner was almost a direct Olimpico, but Turner came back in time to save, and the subsequent shot was parried over the crossbar by Ream. It appeared Ream had used his arm, but the referee ruled it was the shoulder and there was no video review.

Holgate picked up a second yellow card in the 86th minute for bringing down American striker Brandon Vazquez. Jamaica had to play the match with 10 men and Holgate will not be able to play in the return.

The U.S. heads to St. Louis with a goal advantage on Monday for the second leg of the quarterfinals.

(Top photo: John Dorton/Getty Images)