The road to the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals comes to a head as the USA hosts Jamaica on Tuesday in St. Louis for the second leg of their quarter-final clash. The Americans hold a slim advantage after a 1-0 first-leg win in Kingston, thanks to Ricardo Pepi’s early strike.
Match Preview
The reigning champions of the CONCACAF Nations League, the USA, are seeking their fourth consecutive victory in the competition. Thursday’s win in Jamaica was marked by Mauricio Pochettino’s milestone as he became only the third full-time U.S. coach to win his first competitive away match.
CityPark has been a fortress for the Americans, who have kept clean sheets in their previous two matches at the venue. Historically, the U.S. boasts an unblemished home record in the Nations League knockout rounds, conceding just once in their last five such matches.
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Meanwhile, Jamaica finds themselves in a familiar position, needing a comeback after losing their home leg. Under Steve McClaren, the Reggae Boyz have shown resilience in past tournaments, famously overturning a deficit against Canada at this stage last year. However, their lack of consistent finishing has haunted them, as they’ve failed to score in three of McClaren’s five matches in charge.
The Reggae Boyz were inches from taking the lead in the first leg, but Demarai Gray’s penalty was saved by U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner. Despite their struggles, Jamaica was the last Caribbean side to beat the USA on American soil, a feat achieved in a 2019 friendly.
Team News
The USA’s injury list remains lengthy, with Johnny Cardoso, Aidan Morris, Folarin Balogun, Brenden Aaronson, Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams, and Josh Sargent all sidelined. However, Tim Weah returns from suspension, and Christian Pulisic, fresh from earning his 75th cap, continues to lead the attack alongside Ricardo Pepi, who has already etched his name among the U.S.’s young scoring legends.
Jamaica faces their own challenges. Bobby Decordova-Reid is out due to an Achilles injury, Michail Antonio was absent in the first leg, and Mason Holgate is suspended after a red card. Leon Bailey’s return boosts their creativity, while Isaac Hayden and Shamar Nicholson are expected to feature prominently in the lineup.
Predicted Lineups
USA: Turner; Scally, M. Robinson, McKenzie, A. Robinson; Tillman, Busio; Weah, McKennie, Pulisic; Pepi
Jamaica: Blake; T. Gray, Bernard, Lowe, Bell, Leigh; D. Gray, Latibeaudiere, Anderson, Bailey; Nicholson
Match Outlook
The Reggae Boyz have proven capable of competing with the USA but have struggled to sustain their intensity over 90 minutes. The Americans’ depth and defensive solidity at home make them favorites to secure another clean sheet and advance to the semi-finals.
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