The US men’s national team completed a 1-1 draw against Jamaica in the first group-stage match of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Damion Lowe scored the lone goal for Jamaica in the 13th minute.
- Brandon Vazquez scored the equalizer in the 88th minute. It was his second career goal for the US
- The US men outshot Jamaica 13-6 while winning the possession battle. The USMNT has 68 percent ownership while Jamaica has 32 percent.
- The USMNT’s next game is against Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday at 10 pm ET.
The Athleticquick analysis:
What this means for the US
Vazquez’s goal salvaged a 1-1 draw and would have been the second time the US lost in the Gold Cup group stage. (The first and only time was in 2011 to Panama.) The draw leaves the US in a good position to advance in the group stage, as the top two teams from each group advance to the knockouts and the US is favored. their next. two matches against Saint Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago. After tonight’s draw, the goal differential will likely factor into the seeding, so the U.S. will have to put up as many goals as possible on Wednesday night against a Saint Kitts and Nevis team that they’ll be up against in the bug- and favorites. — Tenorio
What can be gained from this draw?
It wasn’t pretty, but it’s hard to argue that Vazquez’s goal wasn’t a reasonable equalizer for the USMNT. The US fielded a different squad from the team that won the Nations League trophy last week in Las Vegas. Goalkeeper Matt Turner, who saved a penalty to keep the game within one goal, was the only holdover from the starting lineup, and the lack of firepower on the attacking end was apparent, as a big difference in how the US was able to push. the game through its midfield. While Jamaica has many Premier League players in its lineup, the US has a squad made up of domestic North American players based in MLS or Liga MX.
The US had a couple of dangerous moments, but never looked as fluid or dangerous as they did with their best players on the field against Mexico and Canada in Las Vegas. Players like Aidan Morris and Alan Soñora struggled, the US gave up a goal on a defensive set piece and Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake made several key saves to keep the Americans at bay. It looked like Jamaica would take the win, but the US controlled most of the ball and Jamaica was on the back foot for most of the second half. Eventually, Vazquez found the back of the net when Jamaica failed to clear Jesús Ferreira’s cross and the result was saved.
There’s not a ton of positives to be gained from this. The US needs to be more decisive in games like this, despite the obvious talent in Jamaica’s line, and it needs to play better to advance to the knockout rounds. — Tenorio
Backstory
The US enters the CONCACAF Gold Cup on a high after winning the CONCACAF Nations League on June 18. The USMNT defeated Canada 2-0 with Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun scoring the goals. This is the USMNT’s second CONCACAF Nations League title in program history.
The USMNT is the defending champion of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In 2021, the squad defeated Mexico 1-0 in the final, securing the country’s seventh CONCACAF Gold Cup title.
Highlights of the game
Brandon Vazquez equalized in the 88th minute for the USMNT!
The FC Cincinnati attacker found a loose ball in the box after a clearance and it was 1-1 late in the #GoldCup match against Jamaica.
🎥 @FOXSoccer pic.twitter.com/SmGKB8m3z4
– The Athletic Soccer (@TheAthleticSCCR) June 25, 2023
Required reading
(Photo: Jon Durr / USA Today)
