A fifth-minute objective from Ricardo Pepi gave Mauricio Pochettino’s United States a 1-0 win over Jamaica of their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final, first-leg on Thursday.
Jamaica will rue a Demarai Grey penalty which was beautifully saved by American keeper Matt Turner and a late pink card for defender Mason Holgate however they continue to be in with an opportunity in Monday’s return leg in St. Louis.
Argentine Pochettino now has two wins from his opening three video games accountable for the USA after being introduced in to the lead the staff to the 2026 World Cup which they are going to co-host with Canada and Mexico.
These hoping to see the previous Tottenham Hotspur supervisor remodel the tactical strategy of the American facet would have discovered little indication of change in what was a scrappy recreation on a difficult discipline on the Nationwide Stadium.
Pochettino’s choice to play AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic in a free-role, working extra centrally, paid off immediately nevertheless, with the previous Chelsea man creating the opening objective.
Pulisic drew two defenders in the direction of him earlier than turning sharply away after which threading a ball by means of to Pepi whose barely scuffed shot went in off the within of the publish.
The Reggae Boyz, who had been unbeaten below their new coach, former England supervisor Steve McClaren, responded positively nevertheless.
Shamar Nicholson bustled into the field, evading two challenges earlier than he was introduced down by keeper Matt Turner, incomes a penalty.
Demarai Grey, the previous Everton winger now enjoying within the Saudi Professional League, struck his penalty arduous and excessive however Turner pulled off a high class save to push the shot large.
There have been few clear reduce probabilities from then on, in a scrappy recreation, but it surely was Jamaica that had the higher of the alternatives.
Yunus Musah cleared off the road to disclaim Holgate after Renaldo Cephas struck a low ball goalwards.
Jamaica’s Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey’s nook virtually went straight in however Turner did nicely to claw it away from the objective though the Individuals had been lucky that the referee didn’t rule Tim Ream had dealt with as he blocked a follow-up shot.
The sport acquired tetchy at occasions, withe melees following tough challenges on Pulisic and Holgate was dismissed within the 86th minute for a second yellow card.
In the long run, PSV Eindhoven striker Pepi, beginning rather than the injured Folarin Balogun, proved the match-winner.
“We acquired the consequence and now it is time to go deal with it at dwelling,” Pepi advised broadcasters TNT.
“It is a tough staff to play towards but when I place myself in the appropriate areas, then I am at all times going to seek out house to attain a objective,” he stated.
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