Mauricio Pochettino’s young tenure as head coach of the US Men’s national team took yet another step in the right direction tonight with a 4-2 win over Jamaica.
Scorers: Pulisic 14′, 33′, Pepi 42′, Weah 56′; Gray 54′, 68′
After a narrow 1-0 away win in Kingston, Pochettin’s men were in need of a more polished performance, and they certainly delivered at St. Louis’ Energizer Park.
Alarm bells rang early on in the fourth minute through Juvenus’ Tim Weah, but the winger could only ring the near post after tucking in from the left-hand channel after some one-two play with Antonee Robinson.
The US would break the deadlock shortly after through Christian Pulisic, who did so well to finish first-time on the half-volley from Weston McKennie’s diagonal ball over the top, sweeping past Andre Blake for his 32nd international goal.
He would double the lead on the night in the 33rd minute, with McKennie turning provider once more, after his cut-back from deep down the right flank eventually found its way to Pulisic in the center of the box before deflecting past Blake.
That strike would bring him level with Jozy Altidore for the third-most goals in competitive fixtures in USMNT history, and just one shy of equaling Eric Wynalda in the overall goal chart. Pulisic also became the fastest player in US history to reach 50 goal contributions.
PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi would go on to add his name to the scoresheet three minutes from the half-time interval with a cool finish into the bottom corner after being picked out by Robinson at the top of the box to put the US out of sight.
Jamaica was not to be shut out on the night though, thanks to a crafty volley by Demarai Gray in the 54th minute, turning Newcastle’s Isaac Hayden’s floated cross past Matt Turner.
But the US would battle back almost instantly two minutes later through a thunderous half-volley from Weah, who did well to control Yunus Musah’s cross into the box before smashing past Blake to restore the three-goal advantage.
Gray would bag a brace of his own to peg another back for Steve McClaren’s men in the 68th minute with a close-range finish to once again keep the scoreline somewhat respectable.
With that, the US now awaits the winner of Panama-Costa Rica, while Pochettino improves his record to three wins from four since his appointment in September.
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