USMNT squeak by Jamaica thanks to extra-time heroics to win 3-1 in Concacaf Nations League Semifinal

The USMNT is on a quest to win their third consecutive Concacaf Nations League. Jamaica stood in front of them in the semifinal round and gave the USA a tough match as they have in recent matchups. After a goal in the first minute and a goal in the last minute of regulation, the teams needed extra-time to determine a winner. In the extra 30 minutes, the USMNT turned on the afterburners and scored twice to win the match 3-1.

The result was one where the USMNT did not look great, yet still found a way to win. Substitutions helped change the match for the USA after Jamaica came out firing early on. This USA team has a fight in them to get what they need, even at the death of a game. This team is on to the final, but they will need to show much better if they want to complete the three-peat!

USMNT vs Jamaica recap

A first-minute goal and a last-minute goal

The USMNT seemed ill-prepared to start this semifinal match. Jamaica was without four of their top players out for either injury or suspension, yet the Reggae Boyz started extremely well. They played direct and won a throw-in off the first kick. The throw-in was quickly taken and a cross looped into the USA box. U.S. defender Joe Scally and goalkeeper Matt Turner were not ready for the early chance. Scally did not track the runner into the box and Gregory Leigh smashed a chance at Turner who could not palm the shot away.

It was 1-0 Jamaica after literally the first minute of the game. The USA then controlled the ball for the next 45 minutes but failed to create any big chances to score. This was mainly due to the way the USA was constructed. The front three were the normal three of Weah, Balogun, and Pulisic. Musah and McKennie made up two of the three in midfield, joined by Malik Tilman. The left side of defense saw Jedi Robinson out wide and Miles Robinson in the middle; the right side has Joe Scally and Chris Richards. The ball went mainly down the right side through Tilman and Scally, both of whom struggled to create chances for their skilled attackers.

These struggles prompted a change at halftime. Gregg Berhalter brought on Gio Reyna into the midfield, took out Joe Scally at right back, and moved Weston McKennie to right back. The change made the U.S. much more dynamic in their attacking buildup. Gregg brought on three more players still down a goal, Tyler Adams for Yunus Musah, Haji Wright for Malik Tilman, and Ricardo Pepi for Folarin Balogun. These changes helped the build-up, and so did a 76th-minute change of Brenden Aaronson for Tim Weah.

Even with all of these changes, the USMNT went throughout the game without an equalizing goal. That is until the 90+5 minute corner kick. A ball was whipped into the near post where Miles Robinson looked to flick it on into the crowded box. The ball sped ferociously on and struck Jamacia striker Cory Burke; it then sped past the diving Jamaica keeper Andre Blake to help the USMNT draw level 1-1 on nearly the last kick of the match!

Reyna and Wright save the USMNT in extra-time

As the match shockingly ended in a 1-1 draw and needed 30 extra minutes and possibly PKs to determine a winner, it seemed to give life to the USMNT and utterly destroy Jamaica. Jamaica was spent and had few attacking players to bring on in extra time. Whereas the USMNT’s fresh legs came to life. Gio Reyna and Haji Wright were both very lively. Reyna sprang some counter-attacks after intercepting Jamaica’s passes. In the 96th minute, he did so, hitting an outstanding pass to a streaking Wright who smashed home the chance to make it 2-1 USMNT!

After that moment The U.S. smelled blood in the water. They subbed on Johnny for Tyler Adams, so they wouldn’t reactivate his hamstring injuries and kept pushing for a third goal. Just minutes into the second 15-minute period of extra-time, Reyna got on the ball once again and picked the perfect pass to Wright. Wright misplayed the ball but was able to spin around in the box and lash a right-footed shot past Blake. It was 3-1, and the USMNT knew they had made a third straight Concacaf Nation’s League Final!

USA moves on to face Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League Final

The USMNT is moving on to face Mexico once again in the Nation’s League Final. Mexico won their semifinal 3-0 over Panama displaying a truly dominant display. The USA will need to do much better in the final if they want to be crown champions three times in a row. Much of this can be achieved, however, if their head coach Gregg Berhalter is willing to make some necessary changes.

Berhalter and this USMNT side love to create dangerous attacks in transition moments. It allows the midfielders, outside backs, and forwards to showcase their speed and technical ability while the opposition is drawn out and not expecting an attack. Who were the players making the appropriate plays in those moments in the semifinal? Reyna, Wright, and Aaronson; all three of which were subs off the bench.

It is unlikely that Berhalter would bring in all three of those players from the start, but it would benefit the team and their style of play if Reyna and Wright are on the pitch. This would allow the USA to keep their 4-3-3 shape. It drops Tilman, Scally, and Balogun to the bench, Sergino Dest (who was out in the semifinal due to a red card) comes back in at right back, Reyna slides into midfield, and gets Wright on the field as the in-from striker. If the USMNT makes this change, they will be able to compete against Mexico.

Mexico is flying right now and is looking to show that they are still the best nation in the Concacaf region. If the USMNT comes out flat, like they did against Jamaica, and cannot create from those transition moments, then they may fall short of the threepeat. If they are up for another brawl against Mexico, and Gregg puts the best XI players on the field from the start, then we will see the best version of the USMNT. That’s the only team that can beat Mexico and win the 2024 Concacaf Nations League.