CHICAGO — The USA want to be the beat team at 2023 gold Cup. After all, it is the defending champion and title holder of the recently completed tournament Concacaf Confederation of Nations. But it spent most of the opening game last Saturday Jamaica chase instead of being chased.
That chase paid off in the 88th minute when the US striker Brandon Vazquez score to secure a 1-1 draw, avoiding a second loss to an American team in the Gold Cup group stage.
“I knew I had to move in the box. I lived for it,” Vazquez said of his goal after the game. “That means the whole world to me. I think we have an incredibly talented group. To be able to participate and make a difference, I’m incredibly proud.”
Jamaica came out strong with a central defender Damion Lowe scored the opener in the 17th minute from a direct free kick from Gray Demaraithe Everton the attacker made his Jamaican debut after representing England at the youth level.
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Reggae Boyz missed the opportunity to widen the gap in the 29th minute. Leon Bailey Step up to take the penalty Jamaica enjoyed after the American midfielder Aidan Morris fouled in the penalty area but saw the American goalkeeper Matt Turner dive and cease fire. Bailey’s next attempt with his right foot went wide of the post, and the United States could have been within close range of the Caribbean side.
“I think for us, intensity is the starting point. We were lacking that from the start, to lose the ball, to touch loosely, to pass loosely,” said Turner. “We evolved into it and started doing a much better job.
“I know that [save] It was an important moment for our team. A 2-0 defeat at Concacaf is usually a death sentence.”
With the USA refreshed with second-half changes including Vazquez, the experienced midfielder Cristian Roldan and the U20 winger Cade CowellThe Stars and Stripes were eventually able to find a draw that Jamaica manager Heimir Hallgrimsson described as a fair outcome.
The surprise of Saturday’s results depends on how it is contextualized.
Jamaica arrives with a full lineup Premier League attackers like Bailey, Gray and Michael Antoniobut it has seen a winless streak stretching to 11 games in all competitions.
This has always been the toughest match for US interim coach BJ Callaghan’s team, not only because it has to face a Jamaican team with the strongest roster in a while but also because the Americans need have to find their compromise. The familiarity of the top US stars with each other has been on full display in previous victories Mexico And Canada in the four Nations League finals earlier this month; but with only five players on that list at Soldier Field, it will take some time until the players understand each other as well as the top team, if that happens.
“The whole point is that we’re trying to give everyone the experience. I think we’ve got a plan in place, how we’re going to get through the group stage with all the players and the positions of each. physically and mentally.” resilience,” Callaghan said. “So I think as we move on, people will contribute to our success and I think you saw that tonight with the guys coming on from the bench. prepared to enter different situations.”
Some inexperience was certainly evident in the first half. Morris conceded a penalty despite being in a relatively calm situation from a long throw-in and struggled to keep up with Jamaica’s speedy attackers. James Sands was at his side and also failed to adequately cover the US backline, as Jamaica won midfield in the first half.
In front of them, Alan Sonora received the nod in a creative role. He tried to connect with the crosses he made in the box and made seven redirects from an open game. He made way for Roldan in the 66th minute.
Callaghan planned staffing changes for the remainder of the group stage, on the paper as a softer lift for the Americans than Saturday’s contest. Kitts and Nevis, USA’s next rival, will make their Gold Cup debut last Sunday Trinidad and Tobago – the remaining opponent in the group and a team that cannot summon as many top European talents as Jamaica even though it is a squad that has sown the US in the past.
With the ability to salvage Saturday’s results and the talent in its ranks, the US should be able to advance to the quarterfinals and still be able to top the table. However, Saturday’s performance gave the United States a reality check when it comes to how far their in-depth picks can take them in the continental championship. The US never thought they would be able to win another Gold Cup title with a replacement squad as it did in 2021. Teams like Jamaica have grown stronger. Mexico could very well use a trophy to gain momentum. Canada wants to find its first title since 2000.
Any illusions the United States or their fans might have that things will be easy this time around have been dispelled on a night of anxiety. With the recent expansion of the title box, the US can rest easy knowing that they are currently the top team of Concacaf. On Saturday, it learned that being able to support that by being flexible with another Gold Cup won by an alternate team would be much more difficult.
