Kingston (Jamaica) (AFP) – A fifth-minute goal from Ricardo Pepi gave Mauricio Pochettino’s United States a 1-0 win over Jamaica in their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final, first-leg on Thursday. Jamaica will rue a Demarai Gray penalty which was superbly saved by American keeper Matt Turner and a late red card for defender Mason Holgate, but they remain in with a chance in Monday’s return leg in St. Louis.
Argentine Pochettino now has two wins from his opening three games in charge of the USA after being brought in to lead the team to the 2026 World Cup, which they will co-host with Canada and Mexico. Those hoping to see the former Tottenham Hotspur manager transform the tactical approach of the American side would have found little indication of change in what was a scrappy game on a tricky field at the National Stadium.
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Pochettino’s decision to play AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic in a free role, operating more centrally, paid off instantly, however, with the former Chelsea man creating the opening goal. Pulisic drew two defenders towards him before turning sharply away and then threading a ball through to Pepi, whose slightly scuffed shot went in off the inside of the post.
The Reggae Boyz, who had been unbeaten under their new coach, former England manager Steve McClaren, responded positively. Shamar Nicholson bustled into the box, evading two challenges before he was brought down by keeper Matt Turner, earning a penalty. Demarai Gray, the former Everton winger now playing in the Saudi Pro League, struck his penalty hard and high, but Turner pulled off a top-class save to push the shot wide.
There were few clear-cut chances from then on in a scrappy game, but it was Jamaica that had the better of the opportunities. Yunus Musah cleared off the line to deny Holgate after Renaldo Cephas struck a low ball goalwards. Jamaica’s Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey’s corner almost went straight in, but Turner did well to claw it away from the goal, although the Americans were fortunate that the referee did not rule Tim Ream had handled as he blocked a follow-up shot.
The game got tetchy at times, with melees following rough challenges on Pulisic, and Holgate was dismissed in the 86th minute for a second yellow card. In the end, PSV Eindhoven striker Pepi, starting in place of the injured Folarin Balogun, proved the match-winner.
“We got the result and now it’s time to go take care of it at home,” Pepi told broadcasters TNT. “It’s a difficult team to play against, but if I position myself in the right spaces, then I’m always going to find space to score a goal,” he said.
© 2024 AFP
