ASN: Evaluation: Pepi strikes early as USMNT win leg one in Jamaica 1-0

ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks down the 1-0 USMNT win in Jamaica within the first leg of the Nations League quarterfinal. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
November 15, 2024
5:05 AM

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THE UNITED STATES Males’s Nationwide Crew defeated Jamaica 1-0 at “The Office” in Kingston on Thursday evening to move into a positive place in its Nations League quarterfinal sequence. The sport began off entertaining however rapidly become a typical CONCACAF away slog that featured turnovers, accidents, poor discipline situations, seven second half yellow playing cards, and a crimson card to cap it off.

The U.S. crew took the lead in simply the fifth minute when Christian Pulisic performed Ricardo Pepi with a through-ball that set him for a shot from the proper aspect, which he was in a position to end previous Andre Blake.

After that, it was not a simple trip for the U.S. crew. A really poorly sequence of occasions noticed Matt Turner concede a penalty within the thirteenth minute (Turner was removed from the one perpetrator in giving Jamaica that chance) which he was subsequently in a position to save with a formidable effort.

Turner says no! #USMNT pic.twitter.com/XkGf5Vl9jz

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) November 15, 2024

Then within the twentieth minute, Johnny Cardoso was unable to proceed as a consequence of an harm and he was changed by Malik Tillman.

However the remainder of the sport wasn’t fairly, in any respect. Yunus Musah made a close-range deal with on Mason Holgate to finish a menace within the sixty fifth minute. Minutes later, Turner was in a position to block a nook that was heading into the aim.  Jamaica was on the entrance foot for stretches but it surely ended as soon as Holgate was despatched off for his second yellow card within the 86th minute and the U.S. crew was in a position to simply see the sport out.

A pregame message from Pochettino ????? pic.twitter.com/MBTj4Hr9Sd

— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Crew (@USMNT) November 15, 2024

Listed here are some ideas and notes on the efficiency.

Pochettino’s feedback

After the sport, head coach Mauricio Pochettino mentioned all the proper issues. First, he was pleased with the way in which the U.S. crew was in a position to compete on this sport. He famous the apparent that highway video games in CONCACAF should not simple and Jamaica was supported by a boisterous dwelling crowd of 25,000. It was an expert efficiency from the USMNT.

He was additionally right to level out that Jamaica has spectacular particular person high quality – led by Leon Bailey, lots of the gamers are primarily based in England.

Jamaica has all the time been a tough opponent for the U.S. crew. Since 1988, the groups have performed 33 occasions and 24 of the video games have been determined by one aim or much less. Subsequently, the probability of an enormous U.S. win in Jamaica was all the time small.

LEG ONE IS OURS ???????? pic.twitter.com/UXTqgeerFY

— U.S. Soccer Males’s Nationwide Crew (@USMNT) November 15, 2024

However Pochettino additionally mentioned that his crew have to be higher and enhance. It is just his second camp in control of the crew, and he isn’t making important modifications, however he did stress the crew must be higher.

If Turner had conceded his penalty and/or if Tim Ream was known as for a handball within the field within the second half (he wasn’t), this might have been a really totally different sport.

Make no mistake, this was an especially shut sport that might have gone both approach. The U.S. crew gained and groups all the time deserve credit score for profitable on the highway in CONCACAF. However there’s loads of room for the U.S. crew to enhance.

Tessmann and Pepi lead “stock watch”

After video games, there’s sometimes an evaluation of how gamers carried out individually and who helped or harm his case essentially the most for the long run.

As regards to who helped themselves essentially the most, two gamers come to thoughts.

Tanner Tessmann: The Lyon midfielder and up to date U.S. Olympic crew captain helped his case essentially the most. The Alabama native is within the interval of his profession the place he’s placing all of it collectively on the membership degree however is now beginning to see that translate over to the USMNT. That’s generally tough for gamers (as we’ve seen with Johnny Cardoso and Malik Tillman). However with out Tyler Adams this camp, Tessmann appeared very snug in that place. When Cardoso needed to go away the sport early, Tessmann had extra obligations, notably defensively as that’s not Tillman’s energy. However Tessmann was good on each side of the all on this sport.

Ricardo Pepi: the PSV ahead scored the lone aim and on the age of 21 he has very constructive numbers for the U.S. crew. It was Pepi’s twelfth USMNT aim and it’s already his second aim below Pochettino. Pepi has been in a position to reap the benefits of Josh Sargent, Haji Wright, and Folarin Balogun being harm and he has solely performed nicely within the prolonged minutes. Proper now with Pochettino, it’s all about who involves belief. Pepi has earned that belief, and that may make it powerful for the others as soon as they arrive ack from accidents.

Pepi! 1-0 pic.twitter.com/BAi9ApFxrT

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) November 15, 2024

By way of gamers who struggled, Weston McKennie extra carefully resembled the model of himself on the Copa America this summer season than the Juventus caliber participant who has impressed on the high of Serie A and the Champions League. Mark McKenzie and Tim Ream have been poor on the play that ultimately led to the conceded penalty – however have been in any other case okay.

Participant Scores
The Beginning XI

Matt Turner: The U.S. goalkeeper conceded a penalty however then did very nicely to reserve it. He additionally made a number of good stops. It was powerful for him to play out of the again given the sector situations, however he did nicely sufficient. Nonetheless must play extra on the membership degree to shake off the rust. Score: 6.5

Antonee Robinson: The Fulham left again had a blended efficiency. He coated loads of floor and sometimes helped the actual fact the U.S. was extra harmful attacking down the left aspect over the course of the sport. However he was overwhelmed by Holgate for a very good Jamaican probability and he missed an enormous probability to attain early when a detailed shot was saved by Blake. Score: 6.0

Tim Ream: The USMNT captain was okay on this sport defensively aside from when Nicholson earned the penalty and waltzed previous Ream and McKenzie earlier than forcing a foul from Turner. Ream had some good lengthy passes out of the again that helped the U.S. construct assaults faster. Score: 6.0

Mark McKenzie: The Toulouse defender was partly accountable in conceding the Jamaican penalty when Nicholson obtained previous him, however McKenzie made lots of the U.S. crew’s greatest defensive performs within the sport. Passing and in possession, he wasn’t as composed as Ream. Score: 6.0

Joe Scally: The Borussia Monchengladbach proper again didn’t standout on this sport however had a number of dangerous performs – notably with an incepted cross on the play resulting in Jamaica’s penalty. He  was on the ball fairly a bit, however didn’t do a lot. Score: 5.0

Tanner Tessmann: A superb outing from Tessmann who helped the USMNT win the midfield in a highway victory in CONCACAF. It was an expert and competent efficiency from Tessmann who drew three fouls, dedicated no fouls, was 35/38 in passing, and gained 4/5 of his floor duels. As soon as Cardoso left within the twentieth minute, Tessmann simply dealt with extra of the duty in the course of the sector. Score: 7.0

Johnny Cardoso: The Actual Betis midfielder accomplished 15/15 of his passes earlier than leaving the sport within the twentieth minute as a consequence of harm. Score: NR

Weston McKennie: The Juventus midfielder didn’t present a lot however was thrown off his sport by bodily and chippy performs from Jamaica. He dedicated three fouls, drew none, and loss an enormous share of his duels (like he did on the Copa America). Score: 4.5

Yunus Musah: The AC Milan midfielder was restricted offensively however made U.S. crew’s greatest defensive play within the second half on a goal-saving deal with near the aim. It was a play that was positive to impress Pochettino who recurrently stresses he’s in search of “desire” and “desperation” from is U.S. gamers. Score: 6.0

Christian Pulisic: The U.S. crew’s greatest participant did what is anticipated of him when he arrange Pepi’s aim with a wise cross into the field. Then within the second half, he arrange Brandon Vazquez for a  probability. Score: 7.0

Ricardo Pepi: The PSV put the U.S. in an ideal place for a end result when he opened the scoring within the fifth minute. That was Pepi’s solely contact in Jamaica’s field earlier than popping out within the 73rd minute. The remainder of his efficiency was him taking part in hold-up play, the place he was first rate. However he took benefit of his greatest probability, and that’s what you need from a ahead. Score: 7.0

The Substitutes

Malik Tillman: The PSV midfielder got here into the sport sooner than anticipated after Cardoso was compelled to go away within the twentieth minute. What was good about his efficiency is that he was much more concerned defensively than he has been and he helped get away Jamaica’s direct play as soon as the U.S. crew pulled forward. Offensively, he didn’t have a huge impact creating or being a part of possibilities. Score: 6.0

Gianluca Busio: The Venezia midfielder got here into the sport within the 72nd minute and was additionally requested to play a scrappy defensive function in the course of the sector. General, he did his job. Score: 5.5

Brandon Vazquez: After coming into the sport within the 72nd minute, the Monterrey ahead had an opportunity to place the sport away when he was performed in the direction of the aim from Pulisic, however did not do something harmful. Score: 4.5

Auston Trusty: was a late, time-wasting sub. Score: NR

Alex Zendejas: was additionally a late, time-wasting sub. Score: NR