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USA 1-0 Jamaica (November 14, 2024) Game Analysis
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USA 1-0 Jamaica (November 14, 2024) Game Analysis

Ricardo Pepi scored from Christian Pulisic’s pass in the fifth minute, Matt Turner saved a penalty and the United States defeated Jamaica 1-0 in Kingston on Thursday evening in the first leg of the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final, the first competitive match of the Americans under coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The second leg of the total goals series is Monday in St. Louis, with the winner advancing to the March 20 semifinals in Inglewood, California. The United States won the first three editions of the tournament.

Jamaica finished a man off shortly after Mason Holgate received his second yellow card for pushing Brandon Vázquez in the 86th, 10 minutes after his first for kicking Gianluca Busio.

Pulisic set up the goal when he received a pass from Johnny Cardoso and dribbled into the center of the field. Pepi charged past Amari’i Bell, ran onto the ball and touched, then mishit his shot but placed the ball via goalkeeper Andre Blake’s far post for his twelfth goal in 32 international appearances.

Pulisic became the 33rd player to make 75 American appearances. 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. Kasey Palmer passed Shamar Nicholson, who spun around Mark McKenzie and was taken down by Turner. The goalkeeper dived to his right to punch away Demarai Gray’s penalty in the 14th minute, Turner’s third save in eight penalties while in the American goal.

Ricardo Pepi scored the United States' winning goal against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League.
Ricardo Pepi scored the United States’ winning goal against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League.

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

Pochettino took over the US after Gregg Berhalter was sacked due to a Copa America first round exit and started a pair of friendlies last month.

Pochettino made six changes to the starting line-up after last month’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico, bringing in McKenzie and midfielders Weston McKennie, Tanner Tessmann and Cardoso, along with Pulsiic and Pepi.

McKennie was shown a yellow card in the 50th minute for pulling Leon Bailey’s jersey from behind. Antonee Robinson and Bailey were shown yellow cards in the 69th after teams got into a pushing confrontation.

Aidan Morris will miss both matches after spraining his right knee in training. Brenden Aaronson had flu-like symptoms and skipped the trip, instead traveling to Missouri for the second leg.

Tim Weah was serving the second match of his two-match suspension for a red card in the Copa America for punching Panama’s Roderick Miller.

Jamaican striker Michail Antonio was suspended for yellow cards. The Reggae Boyz are managed by former England manager Steve McClaren, hired after they won 0-3 in the Copa America.