The United States men’s national team used an electric attack to dismantle Jamaica 4-2 and beat the Reggae Boyz 5-2 on aggregate to reach the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals for the fourth-straight tournament.
Weston McKennie set up two Christian Pulisic goals, while Ricardo Pepi and Timothy Weah also scored as the USMNT build a 4-1 lead. Demarai Gray scored both of Jamaica’s goals.
[ MORE: Pulisic scores sensational opener ]
The Nations League semifinals and final will be held in Inglewood, California between March 20-23, 2025. The Yanks are the first team to qualify for the final four.
The Yanks held a 1-0 advantage after the first leg thanks to Pepi’s 5th-minute goal and another assist from Christian Pulisic. They are the only team to win the CNL.
Three things we learned from USMNT’s win over Jamaica
Everybody eats as Pochettino puts a feather in his cap
The criticism of the USMNT under Gregg Berhalter, sometimes even from players, was a lack of ideas in the final third. That was not a problem on Monday, as the Yanks overwhelmed Jamaica with fluidity, movement, and power. Pulisic is at the peak of his powers and his first goal was a stunner, but this was also about the sum of the attacking parts. Antonee Robinson had a sensational game on the left side, constantly feeding the forwards. In fact, every starter aside from the center forwards charged forward with vigor and to fill voids in the attack. This was an “Everybody eats” situation, even if the reports will show Pulisic as the glutton.
Questions at the back
Joe Scally was very good going forward, but got a front row seat to both Jamaica goals and certainly bears a big part of the blame for Jamaica’s second when he let Renaldo Cephas get onto his right foot and flash a shot at goal. Matt Turner — who had a good day — saved that, but Demarai Gray put home the rebound. Mark McKenzie and Tim Ream were typically tidy with the ball as the center back duo, and Ream especially showed off his range of passing once again, but both players did not make the sort of defensive imprint you’d want, even on a sloppy field. There are still openings for starting center back spots at the World Cup, as Cameron Carter-Vickers, Chris Richards, Auston Trusty, and others will be hopeful of showing off come March.
Pepi bags another — Will Folarin Balogun return to a starting role?
There’s no question Folarin Balogun has been in the driver’s seat to be the USMNT’s No. 9, but Ricardo Pepi’s finish Monday showed a man in form. He’s also a man in demand around Europe, and he’s now rung up 13 goals in a USMNT shirt — one each in two legs against Jamaica. Haji Wright and Josh Sargent also want their center forward minutes, too. But Pepi’s goals and play over two legs are going to serve a proper role in Pochettino’s emotional memory as he plans for the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal. Will Balogun walk back into a starter’s role once healthy?
How to watch USMNT vs Jamaica live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 8pm ET Monday
Venue: CITYPARK, St. Louis, Missouri
TV Channel: NBC Universo / Peacock Premium
Streaming: Streaming online via Peacock Premium
USMNT vs Jamaica final score: 4-2 (5-2 aggregate)
Christian Pulisic 14′, 33′; Ricardo Pepi 42′, Demarai Gray 54′, 68′; Timothy Weah 56′
USMNT vs Jamaica live updates — By Nick Mendola
Christian Pulisic reaction
“It was an amazing performance,” Pulisic said on TNT after the win. “We came out really hot. It was nice to get an early goal and we built off that.
“It was really important to go down to Jamaica and get a result. I thought we earned that, and we showed a really strong mentality to come back here and win this.”
“We should definitely feel good after these results. Obviously we are learning a lot of new things with a new coach. I thought it connected well today and hopefully we can continue to improve.”
Fulltime — USMNT 4-2 Jamaica
A very good day for Pochettino’s men.
Pulisic, Robinson, McKennie, Weah, and Tanner Tessmann all impressed in big ways.
Matt Turner was solid behind the back line.
And to think we haven’t even seen Tyler Adams in Pochettino’s set-up.
More subs
Cade Cowell and Brandon Vazquez enter for Weah and Pepi in the 77th minute.
Alejandro Zendejas enters for Yunus Musah in the 88th.
First USMNT subs
Gianluca Busio and Brenden Aaronson enter for Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, who combined for the first two goals.
One of McKennie’s best games in a USMNT shirt.
Demarai Gray goal — USMNT 4-2 Jamaica (68th minute)
Too easy, again, for Jamaica.
Renaldo Cephas is given time and space by Joe Scally, coming onto his right foot to force a wet diving save out of Matt Turner.
Gray stabs home the rebound.
Timothy Weah goal! USMNT 4-1 Jamaica (56th minute)
That’s some response, fellas.
McKennie’s entry pass is advanced by a driving Robinson, who spots Pulisic central.
The AC Milan man holds the ball up well and pushes it wide to Yunus Musah, whose cross is good but tricky in the rain.
Weah takes it town and absolutely pummels it past Blake.
Goodnight.
Demarai Gray goal — USMNT 3-1 Jamaica (54th minute)
This is a really fine finish from the ex-Leicester City man, but it was also absent defending from the Yanks.
Demarai Gray is camped out at the back and just waltzes to the penalty spot for a cross, as Joe Scally is worried about the attacker in front of him and there isn’t a midfielder in sight helping out the right back.
4-1 on aggregate in the 54th minute.
Halftime — USMNT 3-0 Jamaica
This team is playing wonderful attacking football.
70% of the ball. 6-2 shot attempts. 3-0 score.
Two goals for Pulisic, one for Pepi. Two assists for McKennie, one for Antonee Robinson.
Ricardo Pepi goal! — USMNT 3-0 Jamaica (42nd minute)
Antonee Robinson turns the ball inside to Pepi outside the 18.
The PSV Eindhoven man turns and rolls a pinpoint low shot inside the far post.
The vibes are upper echelon in Missouri.
Christian Pulisic goal! USMNT 2-0 Jamaica (33rd minute)
Let’s see if this is changed to an own goal, but boy was the build-up pretty again.
Tanner Tessmann starts the move with a long ball, then hauls his big frame into the 18.
He dummies Weston McKennie’s cross into the 18, and Pulisic’s behind him to hit the ball off a defender and padt Blake.
I don’t know that the ball was on target, but so far it’s been called another goal for the red-hot American.
This is all USA
The Yanks have 80% possession in the first 28 minutes of this match, taking four of the game’s five shots.
Two of them have been on target, and the Yanks have completed nearly five times the amount of Jamaica’s passes (277-57).
Christian Pulisic goal! USMNT 1-0 Jamaica (14th minute)
A fantastic goal.
Timothy Weah springs Weston McKennie with a nice curling switch to the right.
McKennie swirls a gorgeous cross into the path of Pulisic, who leaps to knife the ball past Andre Blake, off the far post, and into the goal.
Beautiful stuff.
Brilliant move for the U.S.
Christian Pulisic drops deep on the left and finds Timothy Weah, who starts a 1-2 with Antonee Robinson with a back leg pass.
Weah picks the ball off “Jedi” and drives into the box, snapping the ball off the near post in what would’ve been a devastating opener.
0-0, 5′.
Lineup notes
Neither Michail Antonio nor Mason Holgate for the Reggae Botz, as both players from the first leg are back to their English clubs. Amari’i Bell leads the back line, while Isaac Hayden gets his first start in the center of the park.
The Yanks drop Weston McKennie in the midfield for the injured Johnny Cardoso, moving Timothy Weah into the Starting XI. Double Juve!
USMNT lineup
Turner, Robinson, Ream, McKenzie, Scally, Tessmann, McKennie, Weah, Pulisic, Musah, Pepi
Jamaica lineup
Blake, Latibeaudiere, T. Gray, Bell, Bernard, Hayden, Lowe, Magee, D. Gray, Bailey, Nicholson
USMNT team news, focus
Tim Weah is expected to return to the lineup on Monday after serving his suspension resulting the remainder of the two-game suspension he was given for his costly red card against Panama at Copa America this summer, though it will be interesting to see who’s place he takes in the team. Yunus Musah has been one of the bright spots during Pochettino’s introductory period, a young player (still only 21) making the most of his opportunities on the right wing in Weah’s absence. The obvious answer is that Johnny Cardoso picked up a hip injury in the first half on Thursday, but is it as simple as Musah sliding back into midfield when he hasn’t played there yet under Pochettino — and let’s be honest, has struggled when he has played there in the past?
Jamaica team news, focus
Jamaica were shorthanded up top on Thursday with Michail Antonio serving a suspension of his own, but the West Ham striker will be back in the team and ready to make an impact from the start when he returns on Monday. With the USMNT expected to dominate possession at home, Antonio will find himself one against two with Tim Ream and Mark McKenzie (or whoever starts at center back) for most of the night. Demarai Gray picked up an injury in the first leg and isn’t expected to be available on Thursday.
USMNT vs Jamaica prediction
Pulisic leads the way once again, with a goal (maybe two) and an assist. The chances will be there all night, it is simply a matter of being ruthless and taking them. With his confidence as high as it’s ever been, that’s won’t be a problem. USMNT 3-1 Jamaica.
