Jamaica are in possession, passing it around the US press and taking vital minutes off the clock as they look to hold what would be an impressive victory in Washington.
90' +1
The fourth official indicates an extra four minutes at the end of the match for stoppages.
85'
D. Mattocks enters the game and replaces D. Orgill.
Orgill’s match is over as Mattocks is his replacement.
84'
Play is stopped as Lowe requires treatment after taking a knock. The stretcher comes out for him but it doesn’t appear that serious, and it looks likely that he will see out the remainder of the match.
82'
The United States have been kept at bay by this dogged and determined Jamaica side. While the hosts have certainly been the ones to control the tempo of the match, it’s the visitors who have had better opportunities in front of goal.
80'
D. Lovitz enters the game and replaces A. Robinson.
Robinson departs as Lovitz enters with 10 minutes remaining.
77'
T. Magee enters the game and replaces P. Vassell.
Vassell has been an influential figure in the Jamaica attack, but he’ll watch the rest of the match from the bench as Magee comes on in his place.
74'
The United States are pouring forward, hoping to level the score with 15 minutes remaining, but the Jamaica defence is holding strong against the waves of attack.
72'
C. Carter-Vickers enters the game and replaces M. Miazga.
J. Gyau enters the game and replaces P. Arriola.
Miazga – who captained the side today for the first time in his 13th appearance for the United States – is called to the bench as Carter-Vickers will get a chance to stretch his legs.
Arriola departs with less than 20 minutes remaining as Gyau comes on to turn the tides.
Minute
Description
70'
A centring pass comes in from the right to the foot of Mihailovic who strikes it at the first time of asking, but a key block from Powell relieves the pressure on Blake as the US win a corner.
66'
D. Holmes enters the game and replaces C. Roldan.
The United States make a change at the top-end of the pitch, as Holmes replaces Roldan.
64'
A. Marshsall enters the game and replaces B. Brown.
S. Williams enters the game and replaces K. Lambert.
Brown is replaced by Marshall in Jamaica’s latest switch.
Lambert who assisted Nicholson for Jamaica’s goal is taken off with just under 30 minutes remaining. Williams is his replacement.
62'
The USA have quite the task at hand if they want to get back into the match. They’ve been poor offensively, and now that the crowd are on their back slightly – it will provide even more difficult conditions for a comeback.
60'
S. Nicholson has scored a goal for Jamaica! Assist by K. Lambert.
Lambert wins possession back and services Nicholson with a great pass – which will go down as the assist!
WHAT A STRIKE TO PUT JAMAICA UP 1-0! A shot out of the blue has the Reggae Boyz ahead as Roldan gives away the ball in midfield, which leads to possession at the foot of Nicholson – who has only been on the field five minutes! He looks up at goal from his position just outside the right corner of the penalty area and fires an absolute strike which beats the diving Steffen!
59'
N. Lima enters the game and replaces T. Ream.
J. Amon enters the game and replaces J. Yueill.
Ream makes way for Lima in a substitution for the USA.
Yueill also gets the call from the touchline as he will be replaced by Amon.
55'
S. Nicholson enters the game and replaces M. Foster.
Substitution Maalique Foster Shamar Nicholson
53'
Trapp once again carelessly gives it away in midfield as Lambert sneaks it away and unleashes a shot low, towards the goalkeeper's left, but Steffen is there to confidently palm it away.
51'
A. Lewis enters the game and replaces M. Hector.
The first substitution of the match comes five minutes after the restart, as Jamaica replace Hector with Lewis in midfield.
48'
Roldan beats Francis for pace and fires a low cross into the penalty area but Blake is alert and comes off his line to make the clean grab.
46'
Jamaica get the second half underway from the kick-off!
45' +1
HALF-TIME: USA 0-0 JAMAICA.
45'
The fourth official indicates there will be one additional minute at the end of the first half for stoppages.
44'
Lambert sees an opening in front of him as he approaches the penalty area, and fires a quick shot which forces Steffen to drop to his knees to make the save.
42'
Lambert sees an opening in front of him as he approaches the penalty area, and fires a quick shot which forces Steffen to drop to his knees to make the save.
40'
With five minutes remaining in the half, it’s looking unlikely that we’ll see a goal before the interval. Despite the United States trying in earnest, they’ve been unable to get Sargent involved in the match, much to the detriment of the attack as a whole.
36'
Robinson pushes forward down the left looking to get Sargent more involved, but Lawrence continues his fantastic first-half defensively with a great challenge to win back possession just outside the penalty area.
32'
The free-kick is taken deep, looking for Sargent to chest it down – but Lawrence is perfect in his coverage and he wins the ball without too much fuss.
30'
Roldan is fouled once again – this time by Lambert – and for the second time in minutes, the US forward stays down. It’s not a nasty challenge, but the defender did catch the strikers’ foot before winning the ball. The hosts have a free-kick just inside the Jamaica half, on the right flank.
28'
A lovely one-two sequence between Arriola and Roldan gets the winger free, but a poor final touch sends the ball over Arriola’s head and out for a Jamaica throw-in deep in their own half. The match has been quite sloppy thus far, despite the positivity.
26'
A wild challenge from Orgill requires words from the referee as Roldan stays down in some pain. Match official Kimbell Ward doesn’t brandish a card, but gives the Jamaica forward a stern talking to.
24'
Roldan wins a free-kick as Francis is overeager to win the ball as he goes through the forward. The set-piece is taken quickly but a sloppy bit of play gives the ball back to Jamaica via a US handball.
22'
Trapp looks to feed Sargent in front of the Jamaica penalty area, but a great slide tackle from Lowe wins the ball back and allows the visitors to slow down the pace of the match.
20'
Mihailovic takes a corner for the United States looking for the head of Roldan, but a confident Blake leaps off his line to make the catch in traffic.
18'
Lawrence drives down the left where his run is blocked by the defending Miazga who puts it out for a throw. The restart is taken quickly and Jamaica switch it from left to right, where Powell has a strike from a long way out – missing the target by some distance.
14'
Mihailovic goes down under pressure from Foster just outside the penalty area and grabs the ball in anticipation of a foul. The referee deems the contact fair, instead awarding Jamaica a free-kick for handball.
11'
Jamaica are finally getting a foothold in the match, passing it from left to right looking for an opening. The US midfield holds its structure, forcing the ball back to Blake in goal before pushing it forward to Orgill once more.
9'
Trapp tries to play Robinson through with a wonderful leading pass, but Blake is alert to the danger and comes rushing out of his goal to clear it away.
6'
The US manager looks to have made a tactical switch from the touchline, reverting to a three centre-back defence with Trapp, Gonzalez and Miazga playing ahead of Steffen. Robinson and Arriola are pushed out to either flank, with Mihailovic, Ream and Yueill the trio in midfield.
5'
The opening five minutes of the match have been dominated by the United States who have powered forward down the flanks. Arriola and Robinson have left a lot to be desired in the delivery, but the overall flow of the match should be pleasing to Berhalter.
3'
The weather tonight in Washington could provide some issues for the two teams, as it has been raining heavily in the hours leading up to kick-off, with thunderstorms in the forecast. That could lead to a disjointed and scrappy match.
1'
The United States get the match underway from the kick-off!
Good evening and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the international friendly between the United States and Jamaica!
Tonight’s fixture against Jamaica is the last match before coach Gregg Berhalter announces his 23-man squad for the North American tournament, and tonight’s XI should feature a mix of experienced professionals and young prospects looking to force their way onto the roster. Without Christian Pulisic in the fold, and given the injuries to DeAndre Yedlin, John Brooks and Sebastian Lletget, Berhalter will be given a great opportunity to test the depth of his squad.
Washington DC’s Audi Field is the chosen venue as the USMNT host Jamaica in one of two tune-up matches before their Gold Cup campaign begins against Guyana on June 18. With the United States still looking to put the disappointment of not qualifying for last years’ World Cup behind them, the Gold Cup will be the perfect opportunity to get back on track; the preparations start today.
The US vs Jamaica is also a repeat of the 2017 Gold Cup Final, a game in which the United States emerged victorious by a narrow 2-1 margin. A key difference from the side two years ago is the addition of 21-year old Bayer Leverkusen star Leon Bailey – who ultimately declared for his nation of birth despite some speculation that he could have opted to play for England.
The finals defeat in 2017 equals the Reggae Boyz’s best showing in the tournament since they first participated in 1963 – with Jamaica also reaching the 2015 showpiece where they lost 3-1 to Mexico. It’s a squad poised to make another run, with experienced manager Theodore Whitmore at the helm for the fourth time – a post he relinquished in 2013 to work with the U21’s, before returning to the top job in 2016.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, it's a perfect time to look at how the two sides will be lining up! Let's start with the hosts!
USA SUBS: Sean Johnson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Duane Holmes, Nick Lima, Tyler Miller, Joseph-Claude Gyau, Daniel Lovitz, Walker Zimmerman, Jonathan Amon.
USA XI (4-4-2): Zack Steffen; Antonee Robinson, Matt Miazga, Omar Gonzalez, Tim Ream; Paul Arriola, Djordje Mihailovic, Wil Trapp, Jackson Yueill; Joshua Sargent, Cristian Roldan.
JAMAICA SUBS: Jamoi Topey, Darren Mattocks, Leon Bailey, Alex Marshall, Ricardo Morris, Tyreek Magee, Amahl Knight, Devon Williams, Je-Vaughn Watson, Andre Lewis.
JAMAICA XI (4-4-2): Andre Blake; Alvas Powell, Kemar Lawrence, Michael Hector, Shaun Francis; Damion Lowe, Maalique Foster, Kevon Lambert, Peter-Lee Vassell; Brian Brown, Dever Orgill.
Berhalter has changed his formation once tonight, and it will be interesting to see if further experimentation leads to different and unconventional substitutions. Perhaps Amon will be able to provide the requisite attacking thrust for the US. On Jamaica’s side, all eyes will be on manager Theodore Whitmore and his decision – or not – to play Bailey. He is without doubt the most dangerous player in the Reggae Boyz’s squad, and his introduction could alter the match considerably.
That concludes our commentary of the international fixture between the United States and Jamaica! We hope you enjoyed it!
Next up for the United States is their final pre-Gold Cup friendly on Sunday against Venezuela. Jamaica’s next fixture is their opening match in the Gold Cup against Honduras on Monday.
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