USA 1-1 Jamaica
CHICAGO, IL—A new look, mostly MLS-based USA squad opened the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup with a 1-1 draw against Jamaica. A late Brandon Vazquez goal spared the USA blushed and denied Jamaica its first win since last June and are now winless in their last ten matches. It would’ve been Jamaica’s first competitive win over the USA since the 2015 Gold Cup semifinals.
The Reggae Boys got a surprise lead in the 13th minute when Demarai Gray’s free kick was headed in by Damion Lowe of the Philadelphia Union. Jamaica had a chance to double their lead in the 27th minute after Kevon Lambert was fouled in the area by Aidan Morris. However, Matt Turner saved Leon Bailey’s spot kick and Bailey would push the ensuing rebound wide of a mostly open target.
The USA kept pressing for an equalizer, but rarely troubled Andre Blake in goal for the longest time. However, the equalizer would finally come in the 88th minute when Jamaica’s defense failed to clear out Jesus Ferreira’s cross and Vazquez was there to pounce from point-blank range.
With just five players carried over from the squad that won the Concacaf Nations League, the inexperienced showed at times, but the US Soccer interim coach BJ Callaghan stressed that one of the goals for this Gold Cup and build on experiences like Saturday’s match.
“For me, the biggest takeaway is the same exact thing we’ve told the players throughout this tournament is that our goal is to just get better each day,” said Callaghan after the match. “And so we’re going to be we were able to get better in this game. And we’re just going to continue to push to get better.
“We always knew that this was going to be a strong opponent. It’s a very talented to make a team that can that can hurt you in many different ways.
“There’s a lot of learning moments and at the same time, there was a lot of great responses. So, we’ll build on the positives and again continue to navigate group play and take it one step at a time.”
Both teams head to St. Louis for their next matches on Thursday at CITYPARK in St. Louis. Jamaica will play Trinidad and Tobago (6:30pm CT) and the USA will entertain St. Kitts and Nevis (9pm CT, FS1).
SCORING SUMMARY:
JAM-Damion Lowe (Gray) 13
USA-Brandon Vazquez (unassisted) 88
BOOKING SUMMARY:
JAM-Damion Lowe (caution, reckless foul) 3
JAM-Kemar Lawrence (caution, tactical foul) 83
JAM-Andre Blake (caution, time wasting) 85
UNITED STATES (4-3-3): #1-Matt Turner; #2-Deandre Yedlin, #4-Matt Miazga, #21-John Tolkin (#19-Brandon Vazquez 82), #3-Aaron Long (#20-Jalen Neal 46); #7-Alan Sonora (#10-Cristian Roldan 66), #16-Aidan Morris, #8-James Sands; #13-Jordan Morris (#11-Cade Cowell 55), #9-Jesus Ferreira, #17-Alejandro Zendejas (#14-Djordje Mihailovic 66)
Subs not used: #18-Sean Johnson, #23-Gaga Slonina, #5-Bryan Reynolds, #12-Miles Robinson, #15-DeJuan Jones, #6-Gianluca Busio
JAMAICA (3-4-3): #1-Andre Blake; #19-Adrian Mariappa, #15-Joel Latibeaudiere, #17-Damion Lowe; #2-Dexter Lembikisa, #3-Kevon Lambert, #10-Bobby Reid, #4-Amari’i Bell (#20-Kemar Lawrence 66); #7-Leon Bailey (#11-Shamar Nicholson 90), #12-Demarai Gray (#8-Daniel Johnson 90), #18-Michail Antonio (#9-Cory Burke 75)
Subs not used: #13-Coniah Boyce-Clarke, #23-Jahmali Waite, #6-Dishon Bernard, #21-Javain Broen, #16-Kaheem Paris, #22-Jonathan Russell, #14-DuJuan Richards
EXPECTED GOALS: USA 1.65-1.74 JAM
TOTAL SHOTS: USA 13-6 JAM
SHOTS ON GOAL: USA 4-3 JAM
FOULS: USA 12-12 JAM
OFFSIDES: USA 0-1 JAM
CORNER KICKS: USA 5-2 JAM
SAVES: USA 3-2 JAM
Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX)
Assistan Referees: Alberto Morin (MEX), Marco Bisguerra (MEX)
4th Official: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)
VAR: Erick Miranda (MEX)
AVAR: Jorge Perez (MEX)
Weather: Mostly Clear and 77º
Attendance: 36,666
Man of the Match: Damion Lowe (JAM)
For more of Leslie Smith’s photos from Saturday night, click on the link.
