The U.S. men’s national team are two wins away from lifting its fourth-straight CONCACAF Nations League title.
Christian Pulisic scored twice while Ricardo Pepi and Tim Weah added goals as the USMNT defeated Jamaica 4-2 in quarterfinal second leg action on Monday. The Americans advanced 5-2 on aggregate after breezing past the Reggae Boyz at CITYPARK.
“I am so pleased. The first 45 minutes is the way that we want to grow, build our journey together and I think it was fantastic to see the player perform,” USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino said.
“In a short period, and with not too [much] time to work, I think in the way that they adapt and receive all the concepts and in the way that we try to play, I think they show that we have unbelievable players with the capacity to understand quick, learn quick and that is because [of] our talented players.”
Weah came close to scoring in his USMNT return after rattling the left post in the third minute. Pulisic and Antonee Robinson connected down the left wing before Robinson’s pass allowed Weah to rip a shot at the top of the Jamaica box.
Pulisic opened the scoring in the 14th minute after a clever chipped finish past Andre Blake. Weston McKennie’s over-the-top ball allowed Pulisic to sneak behind the Jamaican backline and slot home into the far right corner.
It marked Pulisic’s 32nd international goal, which tied him with Eric Wynalda for the fourth-most in USMNT history.
Pulisic made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute after receiving help from a major deflection. Tanner Tessmann and Yunus Musah connected upfield before Musah’s cut back pass was rifled on target by Pulisic.
Di’Shon Bernard got in the way of the shot, but watched as it deflected into the bottom-left corner.
Pepi extended the USMNT’s lead to 3-0 before halftime after netting his second goal of the window. Robinson won possession on the left wing before eventually playing a pass into Pepi, who curled a right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner.
It was his fourth goal in five career appearances vs. Jamaica.
Demarai Gray cut the Jamaica deficit to 3-1 after netting his sixth international goal. Issac Hayden’s cross from the right wing was volleyed home by Gray to give the Reggae Boyz a lifeline.
However, Weah would help the USMNT recapture their three-goal lead by delivering an emphatic finish in the 55th minute. Yunus Musah’s cross from the right wing found a wide-open Weah in the box before the Juventus winger struck home.
Gray kept Jamaica alive with his second goal of the night in the 68th minute. Matt Turner dove to deny Renaldo Cephas but the rebound fell right to Gray who made no mistake.
Brandon Vazquez, Cade Cowell, Brenden Aaronson, and Gianluca Busio all featured off the bench to earn important minutes. The USMNT would hang on to seal its Final Four spot, enjoying their first competitive home win under Pochettino.
“I’m so happy because in these two camps in two months I think it’s amazing in the way that we are one team,” Pochettino added. “I think it’s a team that is very careful about each other, that we fight for each other, how the staff look after the player but the player look for the staff. I think we are creating that idea of [being] all together and feel confidence and that is the most important thing.”
The USMNT will return to action in January with a home friendly vs. Venezuela to kick off a busy 2025.