Post-match: USA vs Jamaica CONCACAF Nations League (leg 1)

Crappy game on a crappy field. Jamaica deserved a tie as our defense was soft and we didn't create enough chances.

Things went south once Tillman came in for Johnny. We needed to move Musah or McKennie back to DM next to Tessman.

We either needed to control the game or be more dangerous on the counter and we failed at both. Jamaica's defense was plenty vulnerable.

Putting Tillman in the double pivot was a mistake and we were lucky to get the win.

 

I just think it’s really harsh to judge any passing tonight. That field was awful. I’ve watched or officiated matches on so many youth and high school fields that were better maintained.

I’m not trying to make excuses for anyone. The field was just that terrible.

 

Going all the way back to the 2014 cycle, the US had a trio of away wins in qualifying under Klinsmann. But even that was a little deceptive.

The Jamaica one in 2013 was vital. But one against Antigua and Barbuda was shockingly close. And the one in a meaningless match against Panama is likely one that US fans and players lived to regret over the next 4 years.

 

We don't play all that many away matches, either. There's a number of results in there, but it is good to get a win.

 

If we are counting friendlies, we did do the double against UEFA minnows Netherlands and Germany.

 

We can do more if friendlies are included.

Czech Republic, Netherlands, Germany.

 

Ah you are correct, I forgot that stretch of games. I was in Poland for that Czech game, and really regret not taking a train out there. Though watching a USMNT game on Polish TV was cool

 

My impression was that Pepi created a lot of chances early when he was fresh but he tired and nobody tried to hit him on some occasions early when he made some runs at the Jamaica back line.

 

Maybe we were more competitive? My motm was actually Pulisic. He almost always is.

 

Well... all's well that ends decently.

I actually saw Tillman stay engaged and play defense and win some duels, which is a pleasant surprise. McKenzie had one of his better games for us (after that first gaffe that gifted them the early PK). And we've got a world-class player doing world-class things to win a game.

 

Pulisic was trying to do to much. A great pass, but overall not a good game for him, though he was obviously targeted, and his class is still obvious. Wes was just poor, so was Tillman, and Musah. Our most physical CM after Cardoso injury happened to be Busio with his 120 lbs or whatever. Tessmann would get killed on football field. Blaming Turner for the PK is a total nonsense, he deliberately took a forward down, and that was exactly what he should have done. Avoided a yellow somehow, but that was a norm for this game where Jamaicans weren't given yellows for a while. Not usually Cardoso fun, but he played well, and with him and Morris missing the next game we will be in trouble again. Between Wes, Musah, and Tessman who all are all softies, I'd start Busio as one of DMs. Nothing that we didn't know about the CBs was learned. If only we had a striker of Vasquez quality with Pepi's finishing abilities.

 

OK for some context: If you mean meaningful (non-friendly) games played at the opposing team's stadium, then there aren't that many since 2013. In that span (2014-present), we've played 21 such games, and our record is 5W*-8D-8L. That's not great but we win or draw those games more than half the time. OTOH the wins are against true minnows with the possible exception of Hondo 21, a 4-1 win that seemed great at the time but then Honduras turned out to be by a wide margin the worst team in the Ocho.

So like slightly less bad than it may have sounded but there is no hiding it: We get at best mediocre, at worst bad results when we play away in competitive games.

Which is why tonight's game is a cause for goddamn celebration. Was it ugly. Yes. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AWAY GAMES IN CONCACAF. This is typical--bad pitch, borderline brawls, result more about grit than skill. But those are the kind of tough sledding games we could not win under GGG. Poch in one meaningful Concacaf away game vs a decent opponent outdid GGG's record in similar games. He won one; GGG never did. That's something to be happy about.

*Earlier posters have forgotten the immortal 4-0 shellacking we gave Cuba in the Cayman Islands in the first CNL semi back in very late 2019.

 

Most disappointed in McKennie and Ream. Scally was as expected so I wasn't really disappointed. The pitch was so bad I think it actually helped us against a much faster team on the road.

 

Are you really THAT disappointed in Ream? Dude is pushing 40.

 

Well in that case shouldn't people be disappointed that Ream is still starting for the US despite sucking and pushing 40

 

Since people are talking about Pepi my opinion is nice finish but he needs more club mins to develop his holdup and possession game.

But that’s a chicken/egg thing. Need more mins to develop that but that is also why he isn’t a regular starter.

 

nope ggg had three such wins. But they were against Cuba, Grenada, and a very bad Honduras team. This is a better away win than we ever had under GGG—that’s the important comparison, even if GGG has more wins in a technical sense.

 

The US won its away CNL match vs. Cuba in 2019, although Cuba hosted it in the Cayman Islands.

 

Let's not forget too that this ain't your grandfather's Jamaica. A huge professional English presence across the squad. A tough and talented team any day of the week.

 

I thought Ream was really good. Surprised everyone else saw it differently.

He shut down some really dangerous moments, and he was calm with the ball as usual and good with his passing.

 

Matt Turner MOTM, shut out win and PK save. Long may he reign, just like I predicted
The field makes it hard for me to talk about the players’ performance, but they are a damn sight slower of foot than Jamaica. It’s to be expected, but it was a little too pronounced for me to be too comfortable with the return leg.
Ream had a great run but it’s time to step aside I think.

 

Do you take an away CONCACAF win? All day.

Did we change the way the world views American Soccer? Not even in the slightest of slightest.

 

I didn't see the first half of the game. Was Johnny Cardoso badly injured, or was his sub-out precautionary?

 

Leaning towards precautionary

 

On Busio- I enjoy watching him move about the field. And I like the way he releases his passes. The physical side is what sometimes gives him trouble. There are certain body types who can train all day with weights but will never be able to add muscle. That's Busio. Hopefully he'll learn little tricks to limit the impact of physical opponents.