Vazquez’s late goal gives U.S. draw against Jamaica in Concacaf Gold Cup opener
CHICAGO (AP) — Brandon Vazquez scored within the 88th minute, and the No. 13 United States gained a 1-1 draw towards 63rd-ranked Jamaica on Saturday evening to keep away from what would have been the Americans’ first loss in a Concacaf Gold Cup opener.
Damion Lowe put the Reggae Boyz forward with a Thirteenth-minute purpose. The defending champion U.S. got here again when Jesús Ferreira’s cross hit off defender Dexter Lembikisa to Vazquez, who scored with a right-foot shot from 7 yards for his second worldwide purpose.
Lowe bought his third purpose in 53 worldwide appearances, beating goalkeeper Matt Turner with a header from 8 yards following Demarai Gray’s free kick. Lowe was performed onside when Matt Miazga dropped again on the restart by Gray, an Everton winger who made his Reggae Boyz debut after switching affiliation from England.
Next up for the Americans is a Wednesday match in St. Louis with 139th-ranked St. Kitts and Nevis, which opens Sunday towards No. 104 Trinidad and Tobago.
The U.S., which fielded a largely junior varsity workforce, had 15 wins in 16 earlier Gold Cup openers, the blemish a 1-1 draw towards Panama in 2015. The U.S. has 38 wins, 5 attracts and one loss within the group stage — a 2-1 defeat to Panama in 2011.
Turner, enjoying on his Twenty ninth birthday, was the one U.S. participant who was a daily eventually 12 months’s World Cup. He dived left to save lots of a Twenty ninth-minute penalty kick by Leon Bailey, who put the rebound broad together with his weaker proper foot. The penalty was awarded when Aidan Morris knocked down Kevon Lambert following a throw-in.
Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake deflected Jordan Morris’ open shot in first-half stoppage time together with his proper arm, then blocked Cristian Roldan’s 71st-minute effort with a leg.
Eight U.S. starters picked by interim coach B.J. Callaghan have been from Major League Soccer. Gregg Berhalter, whose contract expired in December and and who was rehired June 16, was available to observe at Soldier Field and received’t resume teaching till September.
Midfielders Alan Soñora and Aiden Morris performed their first aggressive matches for the U.S., tying the twin nationals to the American workforce.
