United States 4-2 Jamaica (5-2 agg): Hosts secure place in Nations League semi-finals

A dominant first-half display helped the United States to book a place in the Concacaf Nations League semi-final as they brushed aside Jamaica 4-2 on Monday.

The USA won their quarter-final 5-2 on aggregate, with the Reggae Boyz unable to make up the deficit despite Demarai Gray’s second-half brace at CITYPARK.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side had a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg, and came out of the blocks quickly in the second, with Timothy Weah striking the post after a lovely team move just three minutes in.

Christian Pulisic broke the deadlock 10 minutes later, catching Andre Blake with a first-time shot when one-on-one and the captain created the second goal too as his shot deflected in off the unfortunate Di’Shon Bernard.

Ricardo Pepi, who scored the winner in the first leg, put the USA out of sight just before half-time, forcing a turnover in possession before curling a delightful effort past Blake.

Gray attempted to start a comeback for Jamaica after the break, netting his first goal seven minutes after the restart with a superb volley near the penalty spot.

Weah restored the USA’s three-goal advantage shortly after, finishing from close range with a superb volley, with Gray’s second, a rebound from a saved Renaldo Cephas shot, proving only another consolation.

ON TO THE SEMIFINALS

What a night in St. Louis! pic.twitter.com/RJRE2tvR2C

— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) November 19, 2024

Data Debrief: Home-field advantage

The USA looked much more comfortable for their home leg of the tie, which should come as no surprise as they have now won all 12 Concacaf Nations League matches played on American soil, outscoring their opponents 38-6 in those matches.

In fact, they have scored at least four goals in St. Louis for the sixth time (13 games), only doing so more often in Washington, D.C. (seven times in 26 games).

Pepi’s goal was also his 10th for the national team – he is the second-youngest player (21 years, 314 days) to score 10 competitive goals for the USA after Pulisic – 20 years, 288 days.