Mauricio Pochettino’s American team rode a stormy first half to a 4-2 victory over Jamaica in St. Louis on Monday, earning a place in the semi-finals of the Concacaf Nations League next year.

First-half goals from Christian Pulisic and Ricardo Pepi put the two-legged series out of reach for Jamaica, who were already 1-0 down from the first leg, while the US recorded an impressive 5-2 aggregate victory.

Timothy Weah was back in the US line-up for the first time since being sent off with a straight red card in the Copa America, and he made his presence felt early with a shot that rattled the post and almost gave the home side an early lead.

However, the fast start to the match soon led to the opener after Weah’s miss, as Pulisic got on the end of a perfect Weston McKennie cross and beat an onrushing Andre Blake with a delightful first shot.

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Another free-flowing move led to the USMNT’s second goal, again from the boot of Pulisic, as a curling effort from outside the penalty area took a poor deflection to double the Americans’ lead before Pepi put them at 3-all at half-time. 0 with a penalty. its own finish.

Demarai Gray pulled a goal back early in the second half, but the US answered through Weah, who restored his team’s three-goal lead with a stunning volley that went over Blake’s head and dived under the crossbar into the net.

Gray scored one final consolation for Jamaica, but the result was within reach for the three-time Nations League-winning USA, who advance to the semi-finals of the competition at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in March.