USA v Jamaica
Judging by the field, it is safe to say we are not in Jamaica anymore. The US needs to get more goals, Jamaica in a must win or it ends before O/T or PKs. Under performing last time out, how much will they be able to put on field conditions will be known within an hour. I fully expect the US to win, the crowd did not look too bad pregame despite many complaints of the lack of local support of this game. A wider view supports those claims.
A dozen passes in 40 seconds until the ball crosses the half for the US. Then back into the USA half where it is lost then recovered. 1:20 until again in the US offensive half. Now to the Turner, none of this a good look under mild pressure from Jamaica. A high ball is lofted well too high and short for Weah but the US get it back. Pulisic and Robinson combine, feed Weah, then off the post at 3’ for the US. The recover the rebound, have it taken, they then go far back as a Jamaica player is down. The player is not back on yet, but standing on the touchline. Now holding on the offensive end of the field are the US but not doing much with it. Robinson now back to Ream in the center circle. Into the area, gets to Weah his shot, well wide partially cleared but to a US player. Scally of LI has it and he goes back. Weah out of Queens has it on the touchline, arcs one in, not so sure if a shot or pass as it is wide for a goal kick. Blake who of late extended his contract with the Union to take the kick for dem Reggae Boyz. Musah, born in NYC, for Tessman he gets it to Weah who dishes to Pulisic, his dad out of LI. Puli, beats then dropped by Bailey with no call then McKenzie both holds and kicks a player getting called for it seconds later. Scally out of LI stands up his mark who lays it off and the US gets it. McKennie to Puli he goes high, beats Blake then does a Trump dance. Into the side netting as he opens the score at 14’, inside of the foot nice and easy keeping it down as he struck the ball on the way up, a great first time shot. Now with 32 goals in just 76 games, what a rate of goals that is. Light pressure causes Blake to go long and out of play with his clearance. Pulisic gets free again but tackled away. Puli gives to Musah in the area, his go on goal is blocked. Tessman with a foul at the bottom of the circle. Into the area with Nickelson gets a half shot off with a defender draped all over him. Ream intercepts a through ball and it is back to him. Puli springs Robinson then Pepi and his shot low is blocked away by the GK on the ground. Robinson to Puli, his shot blocked then the US wins a corner on the hustle of Robinson. Puli, short to Weah looking back post partially cleared now Jamaica recovers, to lose it in an instant. A number of not even ten yard passes near half field, now to the GK. As the US are getting forward, Robinson with a heavy touch lost to Lowe then to Bailey. Back to Bailey on the wing, he goes in puts out a lead ball to not a soul. It was just mentioned that a player for Jamaica missed a semi final in the USL due to international duty, does that happen anywhere else? Bruce Arena out of Franklin Square sitting with GGG who summered on LI and his wife from LI played youth ball with the mother to Scally. McKennie on the right wing Tessman dummy to Pulisic at 34’, off the inside of a defender’s foot, 2-0 at 34’. The first time ball from Musah, born in NY opened this up. Some pressure from Jamaica causes the US to play very hurried. Martino just compared McKenzie to Pirlo for his longer passes, the spin and curve on the ball? Tessman has the ball under his body, then a great ball forward, to an offside Weah who sends the cross to the 6 and it is missed. Both teams with turnovers due to not coming back for the ball as the defenders stepped up and took them away. Pepi with a distant goal buries it in the lower corner. 3-0 at 42’ Pepi on the GK who was again pressed to get rid of the ball, Weah with a tackle to win it and start the attack. Gray lets on go from a distance plenty on it but right at the GK. I would expect wholesale changes possible at the half certainly well before the typical hour mark. A lead ball into the area for Jamaica bit long the next pass was offside.
Jamaica has to press, lose by 3 or more but if you can get a goal or 2, it gives your team hope, some life. The US I feel even more now with the rain need to get the ball forward to not risk losing it now with poor footing. Get better players off to avoid injury and to get a look at others.
No changes for the home team, the weather is bad lots of wind and rain. Pulisic loses a strong tackle by Lowe, then he runs into him, the ref has a chat with the defender. Martino now repeating my thoughts of getting better players off and bubble players on. The 2nd goal has been properly credited as an own goal NOT to Pulisic. Weah drops to Tessman for Scally top the wing and Musah, now holding in their offensive half, get forward and Pulisic reels in a poor pass. Pulisic suffers another hard foul taking an elbow to his chest, and is down for a bit as Robinson has some words for the player. Scally with a bit of payback, but no foul, just a good hard challenge winning the goal kick. Turner with a great save, but it was offside and yes, the replay show well off. Musah with a ball to the feet of Pepi, it was a bit strong but for a player who was just described as thee #9, the shot has at least got to be taken, it is now stated, he did not expect it to get to him, always be ready. Jamaica on goal now, Weah gets back and the backline takes it away. Scally, beaten, again sends Gray to the ground, this one called. Gray pulls one back, a ball to him say 10 yards out nice and easy inside of the foot on a hop and first times it home. Way too much in the area for the US, they do get a call but cannot do that again. Bailey in the area has his shot snuffed then Nicholson with a shot but offside called, this is not the way for the US to open the half. Pulisic again dropped, he goes outside, then across to Weah, at 56’. Musah a bit high to Weah he settles it then roofs a powerful shot, hitting it on the way down keeping it low, goal #7 for him, 2nd on the year. They show Pulisic with a filthy top, he needs to get out before he gets injured as he has been rocked 3x already just 15’ into the half. Jamaica has subs coming Cephas and Leigh on Nicholson off and Tayvon Gray of NYCFC off. Pulisic for Pepi, what should have been a first time shot is a lost ball. A far shot is put out for a corner by Blake. It bounces around in the area then back by the US as they hold. Terrible pass to nobody and a goal kick coming. Scally a one two to McKennie as Pulisic sends the shot high from a difficult angle. McKennie put it to the edge of the 6, off a defender to the feet of Pulisic, though not on target, unlike Pepi the last two times, he did get a shot off. Musah fouled and gets a whistle, DFK from 22 yards, Blake wants a 4 man wall and the US has a wall in front of that of Jamaica, this should be interesting. The US spead out as he approaches and he sends it into the wall. Weah gets a stray ball and it is lost in the area. Into the area, then laid off Gray buries it for a brace. Scally gave his player the inside by not covering the angle right and inside it deflected. Busio and Aaronson are in, out go McKennie and Pulisic. A player down for Jamaica, now limping off is Lowe for Andersen. Bailey on the way out. Williams for Leon. Great steal and run on goal to a decent shot for Jamaica. Busio is down, he was stepped on. Pepi with a steal for Aaronson but stuffed, US holds now Busio to Scally on the wing, now Busio again for Scally at the end line. Cowell of Chivas and Vaquez, also playing in Liga MX are in, out come Pepi and Weah. Another chance by Jamaica, coach won’t be happy. Vazquez in the 6 unable to get a ball for Cowell in the 6, Musah behind him also cannot reel it in. Vazquez gets ahold of a lost ball and goes well wide with it from inside the area. These forwards have to get these on frame, that one should have been tucked away, on an error, you must punish your opposition. Musah skies one far and wide of the goal. Vazquez called for a foul at the top of the Jamaica area, the US took the ball away, not a good move. Gray put down by Tessman and is now being stretched then helped up by his teammates. Zendejas in for Musah for the US. As he runs on the patch on his arm is 90% off. Even with a constant rain for about an hour, the field is better than a few days ago in Jamaica. It is mentioned that Chris Henderson, a legend, an executive now with Miami is present, when his team played at NYCFC, a photographer took his photo then asked who he was… Scaly skies a cross and Jamaica loses it just below the center circle. Vazquez with a great look from Aaronson alone on goal, but off, is wide. Cowell with a soft shot from a distance. A quick shot of a t-shirt from the 1994 World Cup, not a player on the field was alive. Again in on goal and the US can’t put it away.
Yes, they won and will advance, yes, they qualified for the Gold Cup, but they lost the 2nd half 2-1 totally unacceptable, hardly the dominant performance that this game is now being described as. The chance to make a statement was lost, in a big way, lax defense against a better team makes this a far closer game. Pulisic has some words for the refs, coach has hugs for them. The forwards did not tuck away a number of great chances. No games for the US now for 2 months and pro leagues take a break soon. Hoping coach can get his game plan through to them in these many weeks ahead.