ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks down the USMNT win over Jamaica on Monday evening to advance to the Nations League semifinal and put a optimistic finish to a rocky 2024 yr.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
November 19, 2024
7:00 AM
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THE UNITED STATES MEN’S Nationwide crew superior to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Nations League, as anticipated, with a 4-2 (5-2 mixture) win over Jamaica on Monday evening in St. Louis. Whereas Jamaica scored twice, the consequence was by no means doubtful after the U.S. crew coasted into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
For the U.S. crew, the performances was led by Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Ricardo Pepi, and a really influential efficiency from Tanner Tessmann who made large inroads into the crew over the course of each video games.
The beginning lineup solely had one change from the primary sport with Tim Weah changing the injured Johnny Cardoso. That transfer then shifted Yunus Musah centrally as Weah then performed in his most popular wing place.
The U.S. crew did what it needed to do on this sport by scoring early to crush Jamaica’s hope for an upset. It got here by means of the standard suspects enjoying to their strengths within the thirteenth minute. McKennie hit a pinpoint lengthy ball into the field the place it discovered an onrushing Pulisic for the end previous Andre Blake.
— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Workforce (@USMNT) November 19, 2024
Within the thirty third minute, the U.S. crew made it 2-0 when Pulisic hit a shot that deflected off Di’Shon Bernard and previous Blake who was diving the improper means. After initially being credited to Pulisic, it ended up as an personal purpose.
Then within the forty second minute, it was Ricardo Pepi with an ideal shot from simply outdoors the field who beat Blake to the far submit. For Pepi, he has now scored in three of the primary 4 video games coached by Mauricio Pochettino.
Within the second half, it started to rain exhausting however the lightening held up and the sport was in a position to be accomplished. To Jamaica’s credit score, they started to battle again after an especially poor first half. Demarai Grey scored his first of two targets with a beautiful volley previous turner within the 53rd minute.
The USMNT responded rapidly and once more crushed the hopes of Jamaica and this time it was maybe the purpose of the evening when he took a go from Musah and smashed it into the highest nook for a 4-1 lead.
— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Workforce (@USMNT) November 19, 2024
Grey capped the scoring within the 68th minute when he put a rebound previous Turner after an preliminary save on a shot from Renaldo Cephas.
Listed below are some ideas on the sport.
U.S. was good, Jamaica was poor
The U.S. crew performed nicely on this sport. Whereas Jamaica scored twice, the U.S. crew dominated possession, passing, and probability creation. The fact, nonetheless, is that Jamaica was very poor and disinterested till Grey’s stunning purpose.
Jamaica’s Michail Antonio and Kaheim Dixon didn’t play within the second leg attributable to a misplaced Jamaican passport. However issues have by no means at all times been rosy with Jamaica’s nationwide crew. Leon Bailey has taken a number of breaks from the crew citing their federation’s lack of requirements. The type of their nationwide crew has additionally been up and down. Proper now, it’s down.
The diploma of which the teaching workers and followers can measure progress from beating CONCACAF groups (aside from Canada or Mexico) can fluctuate. The U.S. crew performed nicely, nevertheless it’s additionally vital not get carried away that Pochettino has made strides in fixing the crew’s issues. Perhaps he has, however these video games don’t actually present a lot proof. It was a enjoyable sport to observe, and the crew was fluid with its off-the ball motion, its dribbling, and its passing. However what does it imply?
That’s to not be too unfavorable. A win is a win, and it even beating an underperforming crew may help with confidence – which the crew has lacked. There’s nonetheless a protracted street forward, however ending the yr with a pleasant confidence booster (in contrast with the top of 2023, which noticed an unsightly away loss towards Trinidad & Tobago) isn’t unhealthy.
A minimum of the U.S. crew isn’t up towards it, like Mexico is once more.
Tessmann and Pepi’s massive camp
Tanner Tessmann and Ricardo Pepi had been the most important inventory risers on this camp – by far. It was refreshing to see two gamers who had been age-eligible for the 2024 U-23 Olympic crew (Tessmann was the captain, Pepi stayed with the USMNT) make inroads with Pochettino.
The USMNT wanted one other midfield presence with Tyler Adams nonetheless in restoration. Tessmann was within the mixture of gamers like Gianluca Busio, Aidan Morris, and Johnny Cardoso as gamers who had been on the sting of the crew with their foot within the door, however not totally in. Cardoso may need a greater membership resume, however Tessmann is closing rapidly after main Venezia to promotion and now enjoying extra for Lyon.
However Tessmann appeared extra in-synch with the USMNT midfield than Cardoso, and Cardoso has been with the crew for years now. Tessmann leaves this camp with an edge over his competitors. Now he should proceed to progress for Lyon. He’s within the driver’s seat.
— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Workforce (@USMNT) November 19, 2024
The identical factor for Ricardo Pepi. Certain, scoring targets towards Panama and Jamaica will not be an enormous assertion. However following the Copa America, the USMNT striker place remained unsettled between Pepi, Folarin Balogun, Josh Sargent, and infrequently Haji Wright, when he’s not on the wing. Whereas the opposite gamers have been coping with accidents, Pepi is scoring targets for each membership and nation.
With a brand new supervisor, the gamers should earn the belief of the supervisor. Maybe Balogun and Sargent can get there and the identical goes for Busio, Cardoso, and Morris. However Pepi and Tessmann are there and if the World Cup had been beginning tomorrow, they might be enjoying. The others are in an unenviable scenario the place they should catch-up.
Pulisic & McKennie
Whereas Pochettino will regularly make adjustments to the USMNT roster, discover new gamers, and combine youth, the success of the crew will finally come all the way down to the very best gamers on the crew.
It’s exhausting to see the USMNT performing nicely on the World Cup or towards any prime crew with out massive contributions from Pulisic and McKennie (after which perhaps Sergino Dest and Tim Weah). However Pulisic and McKennie have important expertise within the Champions League and with actually elite groups inside the large 4 leagues.
In contrast to Pulisic, McKennie struggles together with his consistency. However his kind usually at all times correlates with the type of the USMNT. When McKennie will not be enjoying nicely (as he did within the Copa America), the USMNT doesn’t play nicely. In the meantime, Pulisic is just a giant sport participant. He will be counted on delivering like clockwork.
WHAT A HALF! pic.twitter.com/irUHozdrrG
— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Workforce (@USMNT) November 19, 2024
After McKennie struggled towards Jamaica within the first leg, he was good within the second leg. His duel successful can nonetheless be higher, however his passing actually helped open the sport up and make it troublesome for Jamaica to defend. Pochettino wants McKennie to be constant and never fluctuate as a lot as he does.
However it was good to see Pulisic, McKennie, and Weah completely satisfied on the sector collectively for the primary time in awhile. Will it proceed? It is robust to say. We are going to discover out when it the video games develop into more durable battles.
Since it’s viral, we would as nicely speak about Pulisic’s celebration after the primary purpose when he did the “Trump Dance.” When it comes to mixing politics and sports activities, that is usually as gentle because it comes. It’s additionally taking place in all places proper now, as proven within the NFL this previous weekend.
U.S. Soccer has handled quite a lot of politics, principally with the USWNT. Generally the federation has tried to distance themselves from it. Generally they’ve embraced it. Dealing with a really tame dance shouldn’t be exhausting for the federation or the followers, even when they didn’t vote for Donald Trump. It’s not some kind of salute, it’s not geared toward placing anybody down, and it’s not disrespectful by itself. With that, it doesn’t cross any line. It will be a disgrace if folks can’t get past this.
Into 2025
After the worldwide home windows of September, October, and November, worldwide soccer takes a little bit of a break. The USMNT can have its annual January camp outdoors of a FIFA window. In reality, the one window between now and subsequent summer season will happen in March.
Whereas the USMNT gained’t be terribly busy between now and the top of Might/early June, I might anticipate Pochettino to be very busy.
This would be the time when he can actually examine the gamers and their kind with the golf equipment. He can even begin to give attention to the broader participant pool and see what he has at his disposal. The three home windows within the fall had been in fast succession and Pochettino elected to make only a few adjustments. He solely appeared to alter when accidents compelled him.
ON TO THE SEMIFINALS ????????????????????????
What an evening in St. Louis! pic.twitter.com/RJRE2tvR2C
— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Workforce (@USMNT) November 19, 2024
Now, membership kind will most likely begin to issue into the equation. There may very well be penalties for gamers not enjoying , or not enjoying nicely. Completely different gamers may additionally begin to emerge. We may even see if any gamers (probably youthful gamers) catch his eye throughout January camp.
The primary two home windows had been about Pochettino making sense of the established order of the crew. However now he has a break to make extra sense of the broader pool. This winter ought to mark and vital chapter in his tenure with this crew.
Participant Scores
Matt Turner: There wasn’t a lot he may do on Grey’s volley. Maybe on the second purpose he may have pushed it to a safer place to keep away from the rebound, however that will have been robust. He dealt with the whole lot else nicely. Ranking: 5.5.
Antonee Robinson: The Fulham left again had an excellent sport as he arrange Weah’s alternative early that hit the submit and the assisted Pepi’s purpose. Each of those began with a turnover he created. Ranking: 7.5
Tim Ream: Enjoying in his hometown, Ream did very nicely in his distribution out of the again which sprung a number of good possibilities. In whole, he was 84/85 in passing which included a number of deep passes into the assault. He additionally defended nicely. Ranking: 7.0
Mark McKenzie: Partnering with Ream, McKenzie was busy with 101 touches though he didn’t spring many possibilities together with his passing, and he was crushed by Gray on the opening purpose. Ranking: 6.0
Joe Scally: It was a reasonably quiet effort for Scally, who didn’t arrange a lot and retreated to permit quite a lot of area on the second Jamaican purpose. He did assist with possession and was on the ball so much with 105 touches. Ranking: 5.5
Tanner Tessmann: The Lyon midfielder labored very nicely together with his teammates and was typically then key ingredient in turning possession into hazard. Defensively, he shut down the center of the sector for Jamaica. Ranking: 7.5
Weston McKennie: The Juventus midfielder was considerably improved from the primary leg and his lengthy go to help Pulisic’s opening purpose was vital. He misplaced quite a lot of duels, however he made a huge impact within the assault. Ranking: 8.0
Yunus Musah: enjoying extra centrally than the primary leg, Musah’s dribbling was vital to a number of possibilities as he broke aside the Jamaican protection to create area. Ranking: 7.0
Tim Weah: after serving his suspension for the primary leg, Weah was a nightmare for Jamaica to defend. He hit the submit within the first half, scored within the second. He had 4 photographs and helped open the sport for others with some key passing. Ranking: 8.0
Christian Pulisic: one other sport, one other MOTM efficiency for Pulisic who continues together with his unbelievable season for each membership and nation. Ranking: 8.5
Ricardo Pepi: The USMNT ahead scored once more and is the main scorer for the crew underneath Pochettino. Ranking: 7.0
Go get it ???????? pic.twitter.com/S3bzVBmZ1p
— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Workforce (@USMNT) November 19, 2024
Substitutes
Brenden Aaronson: Got here into the sport within the 69th minute together with his typical frantic fashion however didn’t have a lot of an impression because it was about possession at this level. Ranking: 5.0
Gianluca Busio: Gave the U.S. crew extra possession because it was seeing the sport out when he entered within the 69th minute. Ranking: 5.5
Brandon Vazquez: Got here into the sport within the 79th minute and had two possibilities to attain however didn’t capitalize. Ranking: 5.0
Cade Cowell: Additionally entered the sport within the 79th minute and made a couple of good runs into the field however couldn’t join with a teammate for a shot. Ranking: 5.0
Alex Zendejas: got here on late for the ultimate minutes. Ranking: NR
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