Ricardo Pepi put the United States in good position to advance to the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals, scoring an early goal for a 1-0, first-leg win against Jamaica at Kingston on Thursday night in coach Mauricio Pochettino’s first competitive match.
“We were here to fight. We knew it was going to be difficult,” Pepi said. “At the end of the day we got the result and now it’s time to go and take care of it at home.”
The second leg of the total-goals quarterfinal is Monday in St. Louis, and the winner advances to a March 20 semifinal at Inglewood, California. The United States won the first three editions of the tournament.
“In a difficult situation, they competed really well,” Pochettino said. “Of course, we need to improve in all the areas.”
Pepi scored from Christian Pulisic’s pass in the fifth minute, Matt Turner saved a penalty kick and the U.S. won with a shutout on the road for the first time since a 2016 friendly at Cuba. The Americans had 60% possession but were outshot 12-6.
Jamaica finished a man short after Mason Holgate was given his second yellow card for pushing Brandon Vázquez in the 86th, 10 minutes after his first for kicking Gianluca Busio.
Pulisic sparked the goal when he received a pass from Johnny Cardoso and dribbled up the center of the field. Pepi burst past Amari’i Bell, ran onto the ball and took a touch, then mis-hit his shot but put the ball in off goalkeeper Andre Blake’s far post for his 12th goal in 32 international appearances.
“I just saw Christian between the lines and I thought I had space in behind, so made a run,” Pepi said after his third goal against Jamaica.
Pulisic became the 33rd player to make 75 U.S. appearances. Pepi is the fourth American to score 12 international goals before age 22 after Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore and Pulisic.
Joe Scally’s giveaway led to Jamaica being awarded a penalty kick by Costa Rican referee Juan Gabriel Calderon. Kasey Palmer passed to Shamar Nicholson, who spun around Mark McKenzie and was pulled down by Turner. The goalkeeper dived to his right to bat away Demarai Gray’s 14th-minute spot kick, Turner’s third save in eight penalty kicks while in the U.S. goal.
“I try to stay grounded, but I was definitely pumped up in the moment,” said Turner, who has started one club match in eight months. “Needed a play like that for a long time now. I think that might have been the first penalty I’ve ever conceded in my career, so then to turn around and save it was a pretty nice feeling.”
Malik Tillman replaced an injured Cardoso in the 20th minute.
Pochettino took over the U.S. after Gregg Berhalter was fired for a first-round Copa America exit and started with a pair of friendlies last month.
Pochettino made six changes to the starting lineup from last month’s 2-0 loss at Mexico, inserting McKenzie and midfielders Weston McKennie, Tanner Tessmann and Cardoso along with Pulsiic and Pepi.
McKennie got a yellow card in the 50th minute for pulling down Leon Bailey from behind by the jersey. Antonee Robinson and Bailey received yellow cards in the 69th after teams got into a shoving confrontation. American defender Tim Ream was not called for a possible hand ball in the second half and Musah had a goal-line clearance.
Tim Weah served the second match of his two-game suspension for a red card in the Copa America for punching Panama’s Roderick Miller.
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 ahead of the second leg.
Jamaica forward Michail Antonio was suspended for yellow card accumulation. The Reggae Boyz are led by former England manager Steve McClaren, hired after they went 0-3 at the Copa America.
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