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After failing to get eight points in the first three games, the United States Men’s National Team was once again in action for World Cup qualifying. Looking for their first home win this cycle, the team would struggle to create much in a first half which was highlighted by some questionable referees but had a great second half. A pair of goals from Ricardo Pepi would score three points in what turned out to be a fairly easy win for the United States.
The line-ups surprised us a little as Paul Arriola started on the right wing and Walker Zimmerman took a place next to Miles Robinson on the baseline.
As for the Reggae Boyz, they settled in a 4-2-3-1 with a formation made up of players exercising their profession in MLS, various clubs in England or elsewhere in Europe and the Jamaican national league.
Gifs of … not a player who gets a red in the first minute
It’s hard to start a recap with – Kemar Lawrence got a yellow in the first minute that should have been a red, but it’s Concacaf so here we are.
The first half mainly saw the United States in control and keeping the pressure on Jamaica. The team in yellow just sat down and let the Stars and Stripes try to figure out how to break them down and then take their chances on a counter here and there. In the first half hour, the United States only managed a goalless shot on target and over 60% possession, so things were going pretty well for Jamaica.
There would be another reason to mention the referee as what seemed like an obvious refusal to score came when Brenden Aaronson broke free and was one on one against Andre Blake before being shot from behind 18.25 meters from the goal. But only a yellow was displayed and the resulting free kick only got one corner. For his part, Taylor Twellman did not understand that there is no VAR in qualifying for the World Cup. But again… it could have been a clean tackle and not a foul at all. Hard to say, really. Sports.
The teams would go into halftime with the United States having to make an adjustment if they wanted their first home win. For their part, Jamaica was fortunate not to have 10 if not 9 men on the pitch, but did enough to last 45 minutes.
It looked like there was more of what was seen in the first half in store until the 48th minute because Ricardo Pepi scored on a nice team movement that went from start to finish after to have been started by Matt Turner.
There were more opportunities as Jamaica opened up. Yunus Musah almost passed the entire Reggae Boyz defense but his shot was saved by Blake. Sergino Dest took giant strides and was shot for a free kick just yards from the 18, but his free kick went over the bar.
Then Ricardo Pepi scored again.
With the goal and two more games to come, Gyasi Zardes replaced Pepi and Aaronson replaced Tim Weah in the 68th minute. The United States kept rolling a bit and Musah came out for Luca de la Torre and Shaq Moore came on for Dest in the 77th minute. Kellyn Acosta would enter the match for Tyler Adams at the end of the match.
The substitutes would have a good effect as Zardes and Weah almost each had goals and the team continued to look for a third with even Antonee Robinson craving a shot.
The Stars and Stripes would see the first leg … except Shamar Nicholson, who has 22 goals in 63 games in the Belgian Pro League, almost snatched a goal. In the end, it was a fairly easy victory for the USA. The first half was a bit tricky, but as a young team they came together and dominated the second half to secure a solid victory.
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