Tommy Thompson #22, MF SJ Earthquakes
The United States U-20 team is like a fine wine, they get better as time goes on. After sputtering early in the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championships, this team has turned around their fortunes just at the right time. On Sunday, this team with high expectations finally lived up to the hype defeating hosts Jamaica 2-0.
After crushing Aruba 8-0 earlier in the week, the United States was looking to continue to gain confidence on the attacking end of the pitch. In the first forty-five against Jamaica they were able to do this primarily through their off the ball movement and good passing into space. Midfielder Tommy Thompson and forward Bradford Jamieson led the attack working on Jamaica’s right side.
Thompson and Jamieson’s teamwork nearly paid off in just the first minute when the two would work with defender Shaquell Moore to get deep into the Jamaica penalty box. However,Jamaica center-back Shaquille Dyer made the clear to end the threat.
The two would work together again in the 25th minute when Jamieson would find Thompson in open space on the right flank. Thompson would make the pass inside to Moore who was unable to control his shot and hits it wide.
Thompson’s consistent pressure would pay off in the 31st minute when he would receive a pass from Jamieson in between two Jamaican defenders. All alone against Thompson, Jamaican left-back Allando Brown would elbow the Earthquakes forward and concede a penalty kick. USA forward Romain Gall would bury his chance and score his fourth goal of the tournament,
The United States would look to strike again in the 42nd minute when Thompson would connect with Jamieson on the right flank. The Los Angeles Galaxy phenom would hit a shot that appeared to go over Jamaican goalkeeper Nicolas Nelson but Nelson made an acrobatic save to keep the match at 1-0.
Jamaica would build up several opportunities in the second half as forward Cardell Benbow would find space in the middle and midfielder Jalil Stewart would work the outside of the pitch. But credit center-backs Cameron Carter-Vickers and Matt Miazga for negating the Jamaican attack’s speed by boxing them out and forcing them out of position on numerous goal-scoring opportunities.
Gall would be called on once again to deliver on a penalty kick opportunity in the 63rd minute after Jamieson was tripped by Nichols inside the penalty box. Despite Nichols avoiding the red card on a textbook call, Gall nailed his penalty shot to give USA the 2-0 advantage.
With the victory, the United States (2-1-1, 7 points) gain a three point advantage over Trinidad and Tobago (1-1-2, 4 points) for the third and final playoff spot in Group A. The two sides will play in the Group A finale on Wednesday the 21st at 530 pm.
For Jamaica this loss eliminated them from the playoff round, ending a disappointing tournament for coach Theodore Whitmore’s side. Jamaica will finish their tournament off on Wednesday at 7pm when they play Aruba.
MATCH SUMMARY
USA-
Goals- Gall (31′ and 66′)
Yellow Card: Thompson (90′)
Jamaica
Yellow Card-Brown (31′) and Nichols (66′)
Red Card- Roberts (84′)
Featured Photo: US Soccer
