KINGSTON, Jamaica (Nov. 16, 2021) -- Four days after an emotional home win against Mexico, the U.S. Men’s National Team went on the road and fought to a 1-1 draw with Jamaica at Independence Park. USMNT forward Tim Weah scored his second international goal – and first since 2018 – to put the U.S. ahead, but Jamaica striker Michail Antonio scored on a world-class effort from distance to level halfway through the first half.
The draw moves the USMNT temporarily atop the Octagonal standings with 15 points through eight games, and ensured that the USA will enter 2022 among the top two with six games remaining. Mexico (14 points) and Canada (13 points) meet later in the evening as all eight teams pass the midway mark of the 14-game Final Round of World Cup Qualifying.
With an average age of 22 years, 341 days, tonight’s USMNT lineup was the second youngest to start in a World Cup Qualifying match, only behind the lineup that began last month’s 2-1 win against Costa Rica (22 years, 61 days).
On the heels of a fantastic performance against Mexico, Weah put the U.S. ahead after 11 minutes with an effort that was both collective and individual as six players touched the ball in quick succession to get the winger in position for a clinical finish and his first goal in an official competition. The sequence came to fruition via a wall pass with Ricardo Pepi that sprung Weah inside the box and the winger deftly chipped his shot from a tough angle across the goal and off the right post to give the USMNT an early lead.
The USA nearly doubled the lead minutes later but Jamaica defender Javian Brown blocked Pepi’s hard shot from 12 yards out and goalkeeper Andre Blake followed up with a diving save on Brenden Aaronson’s effort at the near post.
Jamaica equalized in the 22nd minute on Antonio’s 32-yard blast that eluded U.S. goalkeeper Zack Steffen’s flying attempt to push it away.
The second half saw both sides struggle to create attempts on goal, though both had half chances that threatened. Making his first WCQ start, midfielder Gianluca Busio hit a curling and dipping shot from 25 yards out that barely went over the cross bar. The U.S. was given a lifeline in the 53rd when a poor clearance fell to Bobby Reid unmarked inside the six-yard box, but Steffen did well to make himself big, and Reid skied his shot over the goal.
The USA survived a late scare after Damion Lowe appeared to head home a corner kick in the 85th minute, but the goal was waved off as referee Juan Calderon judged that the Jamaica defender fouled USMNT center back Walker Zimmerman.
In continuation of preparations for the January World Cup Qualifiers, the USMNT will hold a training camp from Dec. 5-18 in Carson, Calif., concluding with a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Dec. 18 at Dignity Health Sports Park (8 p.m. ET, live on FS1, UniMás and TUDN). The USMNT will play a trio of critical World Cup Qualifiers during the winter window, hosting El Salvador on January 27, visiting Canada on January 30, and back home on February 2 against Honduras. Venues, times and broadcast information will be announced in the coming weeks.
USA -- Tim Weah (Ricardo Pepi), 11th minute: A six player combination and some quick passing led to the first goal. Pepi tracked back to win a ball, finding midfielder Yunus Musah who pushed the ball from the right to outside back DeAndre Yedlin in the middle. Yedlin moved it left to center back Chris Richards, who played it quickly to midfielder Gianluca Busio, who touched it up Weah. He kept it going back for Pepi at the edge of the box. The striker then played it back to Weah, freeing him to continue his run into the box. The winger snuck by one defender before deftly chipping the ball with his left foot from a tight angle over the shoulder of goalkeeper Andre Blake, hitting the inside of the far post before going in to open the scoring. USA 1, JAM 0
JAM -- Michail Antonio, 22nd minute: Bringing a ball down the left channel, Michail Antonio stopped his run a little more than 30 yards out and ripped a powerful shot sailed past fully extended goalkeeper Zack Steffen and into the top right corner. USA 1, JAM 1
· The USMNT now holds a 19-3-9 record all-time against Jamaica and is 6-1-7 overall in World Cup Qualifiers. The USA is 1-1-5 in WCQs played in Kingston.
· U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter made two changes to the Starting XI that defeated Mexico on Friday, inserting Chris Richards on the back line and Gianluca Busio in midfield. The duo replaced Miles Robinson (red card) and Weston McKennie (yellow card accumulation) who were both suspended for today’s match.
· Tyler Adams captained the USMNT for the sixth time tonight, and for the third straight match. The team is 4-0-2 in matches when Adams has the armband.
· Earning his first WCQ start tonight, Busio became the 30th USMNT player to begin a qualifier this cycle.
· Five players earned their first away WCQ starts: Busio, Richards, defender Antonee Robinson, goalkeeper Zack Steffen and forward Tim Weah.
· Adams and forward Brenden Aaronson are the lone USMNT players to appear in all eight qualifiers this cycle.
· Gregg Berhalter is 30-5-8 as USMNT head coach.
Match: Jamaica vs. United States Men’s National Team
Date: November 16, 2021
Competition: Concacaf 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
Venue: Independence Park; Kingston, Jamaica
Attendance: 4,100
Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET
Weather: 82 degrees; partly cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 0 1
JAM 1 0 1
USA -- Tim Weah (Ricardo Pepi) 11th minute
JAM -- Michail Antonio (Devon Williams) 22
Lineups:
USA: 1-Zack Steffen; 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 3-Walker Zimmerman, 15-Chris Richards, 5-Antonee Robinson; 4-Tyler Adams (Capt.), 6-Yunus Musah (23-Kellyn Acosta, 66), 16-Gianluca Busio; 20-Tim Weah (10-Christian Pulisic, 66), 9-Ricardo Pepi (19-Jesús Ferreira, 78), 11-Brenden Aaronson (7-Paul Arriola, 77)
Substitutes not used: 13-Matt Turner, 8-James Sands, 12-Joe Scally, 14-Cristian Roldan, 17-Sebastian Lletget, 18-Mark McKenzie, 21-Sam Vines, 22-Reggie Cannon
Head coach: Gregg Berhalter
JAM: 1-Andre Blake (Capt.), 20-Kemar Lawrence (2-Gregory Leigh, 46), 17-Damion Lowe, 6-Liam Moore, 16-Javain Brown, 22-Devon Williams, 15-Je-Vaughn Watson (3-Anthony Grant, 68), 21-Lamar Walker (4-Ravel Morrison, 68), 10-Bobby Reid (12-Junior Flemmings, 68), 7-Leon Bailey (8-Oniel Fisher, 88), 18-Michail Antonio
Substitutes not used: 13-Dwayne Miller, 23-Jeadine White, 5-Alvas Powell, 9-Cory Burke, 11-Shamar Nicholson, 14-Javon East, 19-Adrian Mariappa
Head coach: Theodore Whitmore
Stats Summary: USA / JAM
Shots: 9 / 6
Shots on Goal: 2 / 2
Saves: 1 / 1
Corner Kicks: 5 / 5
Fouls: 8 / 12
Offside: 1 / 3
Misconduct Summary:
JAM -- Je-Vaughn Watson (Caution) 8th minute
JAM -- Javain Brown (Caution) 40
Officials:
Referee: Juan Calderon (CRC)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Mora (CRC)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Tipaz (GUA)
4th Official: Bryan Lopez (GUA)
Budweiser Man of the Match: Tim Weah