US Blitz Reggae Boyz in Nations League
Demarai Gray double lifts the mood for out-of-sorts Jamaica
Demarai Gray bagged a brace as Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz bowed out of the CONCACAF Nations League last night, after being torn apart by the United States inside St. Louis’ CITYPARK.
US manager Mauricio Pochettino made it back to wins with a 4-2 thrashing second leg quarter-final to inflict just the second defeat on Jamaica coach Steve McClaren.
Christian Pulisic broke the deadlock, Di’Shon Bernard scored an own goal and Ricardo Pepi snatched a goal before the turnaround to effectively end the contest.
With the tie over by half-time, the US 3-0 ahead and having already scrambled a 1-0 first leg success in Kingston, the teams went full out for goals after the break.
After the interval Gray netted a double, with Timothy Weah slotting home between Gray’s strikes, as the crowd was treated to a rare goal feast on US soil.
With Jamaica unfortunate to be trailing from the first leg, Gray had his spot-kick saved and what seemed like a certain penalty waved away by the referee at the National Stadium, there was hope that this return match could be mouthwatering.
The US came out of the traps in St. Louis at full pelt, with Weah guilty of squandering chances within the opening 10 minutes. He hit the left upright and then screwed a shot wide of the target.
Pulisic showed Weah how to finish, by crisply converting Weston McKennie’s through ball from a swift counterattack into the bottom right corner, on 13 minutes for his 50th international strike.
Ten minutes later and it was end-to-end goal action with both goalkeepers dealing with the danger inside the box. Andre Blake saved Pepi’s close range shot, then at the other end of the pitch Matt Turner denied Jamaica sole striker Shamar Nicholson.
A slick four player move was started by Yunus Musah to McKennie, who picked out Tanner Tessmann with Pulisic the target only for a deflection from Bernard to bundle the ball over the line on 33 minutes.
With a comfortable cushion, the US pressed forward with their defenders positioned more like midfielders as they toyed with the Jamaicans and their ineffective 4-2-3-1 line-up.
It was no surprise that Pepi, who hit the winner in the first leg, added to the tally just before the break. He pressured Blake into a poor clearance that went to Antonee Robinson, and the ball was soon back with Pepi who rifled home a 20-yarder into the bottom right corner for a 3-0 lead on 42 minutes.
Teams were greeted by a sudden downpour after the turnaround, McClaren bringing on defender Richard King for midfielder Tyreek Magee for the second 45 minutes to prevent it raining goals.
The Boyz were more of a unit after being blitzed during the opening half, with Gray reducing the deficit with a jumping volley to beat Turner on 53 minutes.
The US restored their three-goal cushion just three minutes later, Weah rocketing Muscah’s cross to celebrate his return to the national team following a lengthy lay-off.
Gray bagged his brace on 68 minutes by latching onto Turner’s save from Renaldo Cephas, which prompted a double substitute with Romario Williams replacing Leon Bailey and Karoy Anderson on for injured Damion Lowe.
Renaldo Cephas twice came close to scoring for Jamaica, while the hosts found their attempts either blocked in the box or brilliantly saved by Blake.
While Jamaica will be disappointed by the 5-2 aggregate result, the only two defeats in McClaren’s short reign, they should appreciate that they are currently ranked outside the world’s top 60 but can improve.
Tweaks, especially in midfield and working out the best formation, need to be implemented before the Boyz embark on their World Cup qualifiers.
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