CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying - Matchday 1
Location: Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica
Date: September 4, 2020
This one was an instant classic. The match was wide open from the start with a total of six goals in the first half. Jamaica took the lead twice and the post robbed Fulham’s Bobby Decordova-Reid from making it 3-2. The U.S. also had an opportunity to make it three before Jozy finally broke the deadlock. He was a major threat in the box winning his share of headers. One beat the Jamancan keeper, but the crossbar kept it out. Christian Pulisic was also denied by the bar after looking to beat Andre Blake at his near post.
Both sides had plenty of chances to run away with this one early one. The U.S. came out in a high press pinning the home side deep, while The Reggae Boyz looked to beat the American’s on the counter. The pace of Jamaica was tough on the away side as they were able to find the back of the net inside ten minutes. Shamar Nicholson led the counter before playing the ball out wide to their star Leon Bailey. After running to the end line, Bailey slipped past Antonee Robinson and tried to beat Steffen from a very tight angle. Steffen was able to get his right hand to it, but directed the ball into the path of Nicholson who scored on a simple tap in. Three minutes later we were on the board and back in the match. Jozy Altidore won a header from a Pulisic corner kick, but his shot deflected off a Jamacian defender and right to Keaton Park to level the score. Again the host took the lead on the counter. Bobby Decordova-Reid received the ball just inside the U.S. half with Aaron Long tight to him. Decordova-Reid turned to the outside and looked to beat the center back for pace. Long was able to keep up with the pacer striker until the striker cut inside and into the box. Once the forward got the ball on his right foot, he blasted one past Steffen at his near post. Two minutes later the U.S. leveled it again. And again it came from a corner kick. Pulisic’s ball in found Weston McKennie who headed it low and into the bottom right corner.
After that the U.S. started to take hold of the match. We sat a little deeper and looked to beat Jamaica at their own game. After a free kick was headed clear and our big center back John Brooks of all people led the American counter attack. Once he dribbled the ball into the host’s half of the pitch, Brooks played a perfectly weighted through ball between the two center backs for Altidore to run onto and our striker hit a bullet past Blake. We made it four right before the half. A Pulisic ball into the box was rolled perfectly to Altidire who held off his marker before rolling it to the top of the box for McKennie to blast into the top left corner of the net.
The second half didn’t have nearly as much excitement. The first real chance came from the penalty spot which Daniel Johnson converted and it was games on once again. Aaron Long brought down Decordova-Reid in the box with a tackle which could’ve easily seen him sent off with a second yellow. Luckily, the ref kept his card in the pocket. Right after the PK, Long was quickly subbed off as he was walking a tightrope. Both sides had a great chance of adding another goal. After a hamstring issue saw Josh Sargent subbed on, he was clear on the counter, but his shot hit the inside of the bar and, with the ball rolling on the goalline, the keeper quickly got back and smacked the ball clear before it rolled in. Lastly, in the dying seconds of the match, Jamaica won a free header off a corner kick, but the ball was directed right into Steffen’s hands.
Location: Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica
Date: September 4, 2020
This one was an instant classic. The match was wide open from the start with a total of six goals in the first half. Jamaica took the lead twice and the post robbed Fulham’s Bobby Decordova-Reid from making it 3-2. The U.S. also had an opportunity to make it three before Jozy finally broke the deadlock. He was a major threat in the box winning his share of headers. One beat the Jamancan keeper, but the crossbar kept it out. Christian Pulisic was also denied by the bar after looking to beat Andre Blake at his near post.
Both sides had plenty of chances to run away with this one early one. The U.S. came out in a high press pinning the home side deep, while The Reggae Boyz looked to beat the American’s on the counter. The pace of Jamaica was tough on the away side as they were able to find the back of the net inside ten minutes. Shamar Nicholson led the counter before playing the ball out wide to their star Leon Bailey. After running to the end line, Bailey slipped past Antonee Robinson and tried to beat Steffen from a very tight angle. Steffen was able to get his right hand to it, but directed the ball into the path of Nicholson who scored on a simple tap in. Three minutes later we were on the board and back in the match. Jozy Altidore won a header from a Pulisic corner kick, but his shot deflected off a Jamacian defender and right to Keaton Park to level the score. Again the host took the lead on the counter. Bobby Decordova-Reid received the ball just inside the U.S. half with Aaron Long tight to him. Decordova-Reid turned to the outside and looked to beat the center back for pace. Long was able to keep up with the pacer striker until the striker cut inside and into the box. Once the forward got the ball on his right foot, he blasted one past Steffen at his near post. Two minutes later the U.S. leveled it again. And again it came from a corner kick. Pulisic’s ball in found Weston McKennie who headed it low and into the bottom right corner.
After that the U.S. started to take hold of the match. We sat a little deeper and looked to beat Jamaica at their own game. After a free kick was headed clear and our big center back John Brooks of all people led the American counter attack. Once he dribbled the ball into the host’s half of the pitch, Brooks played a perfectly weighted through ball between the two center backs for Altidore to run onto and our striker hit a bullet past Blake. We made it four right before the half. A Pulisic ball into the box was rolled perfectly to Altidire who held off his marker before rolling it to the top of the box for McKennie to blast into the top left corner of the net.
The second half didn’t have nearly as much excitement. The first real chance came from the penalty spot which Daniel Johnson converted and it was games on once again. Aaron Long brought down Decordova-Reid in the box with a tackle which could’ve easily seen him sent off with a second yellow. Luckily, the ref kept his card in the pocket. Right after the PK, Long was quickly subbed off as he was walking a tightrope. Both sides had a great chance of adding another goal. After a hamstring issue saw Josh Sargent subbed on, he was clear on the counter, but his shot hit the inside of the bar and, with the ball rolling on the goalline, the keeper quickly got back and smacked the ball clear before it rolled in. Lastly, in the dying seconds of the match, Jamaica won a free header off a corner kick, but the ball was directed right into Steffen’s hands.