Mauricio Pochettino’s United States side rode a barnstorming first half to a 4-2 win over Jamaica on Monday in St. Louis, earning a spot in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals next year.
First-half goals from Christian Pulisic and Ricardo Pepi put the two-legged series out of reach for Jamaica, already trailing 1-0 from the first leg, as the U.S. completed an impressive 5-2 aggregate win
Timothy Weah was back in the U.S. lineup for the first time since being sent off with a straight red card at 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.
The up-tempo start to the game did lead to the opener soon after Weah’s miss, though, when Pulisic got on the end of a perfect Weston McKennie cross and beat an onrushing Andre Blake with a delightful first-time shot.
Getty Images
Another free-flowing move led to the USMNT’s second goal, again off the boot of Pulisic, as a curled effort from outside the area took a wicked deflection to double the Americans’ lead before Pepi put them up 3-0 at halftime with a fine finish of his own.
The second goal put Pulisic on 51 career goal contributions for the U.S., tying Eric Wynalda for 4th in team history
Demarai Gray pulled a goal back early in the second half, but the U.S. answered through Weah, who restored his team’s three-goal advantage with a stunning volley that went over Blake’s head and dipped under the crossbar into the back of the net.
Gray scored one final consolation for Jamaica, but the result was in hand for the three-time Nations League-winning U.S., which advances to the semifinals of the competition at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in March.
The result also means the U.S. has qualified for next year’s Concacaf Gold Cup, while Jamaica will have to play a qualifier.