Pepi Goal Lifts Us Over Jamaica 1-0 In Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinal First Leg

Ricardo Pepi scored from Christian Pulisic's pass in fifth minute, Matt Turner saved a penalty kick and United States beat Jamaica 1-0 on Thursday night at Kingston in a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal first leg, Americans’ first competitive match under coach Mauricio Pochettino.

second leg of total-goals series is Monday in St. Louis, and winner vances to a March 20 semifinal at Inglewood, California . United States won first three editions of tournament.

Jamaica finished a man short after Mason Holgate was given his second yellow card for pushing Brandon Vázquez in 86th, 10 minutes after his first for kicking Gianluca Busio.

Pulisic sparked goal when he received a pass from Johnny Cardoso and dribbled up center of field. Pepi burst past Amari’i Bell, ran onto ball and took a touch, n mis-hit his shot but put ball in off goalkeeper Andre Blake’s far post for his 12th goal in 32 international appearances.

Pulisic became 33rd player to make 75 U.S. appearances. Pepi is fourth American to score 12 international goals before age 22 after Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore and Pulisic.

Joe Scally’s giveaway led to Jamaica being awarded a penalty kick by Costa Rican referee Juan Gabriel Calderon. Kasey Palmer passed to Shamar Nicholson, who spun around Mark McKenzie and was pulled down by Turner. goalkeeper dived to his right to bat away Demarai Gray’s 14th-minute spot kick, Turner's third save in eight penalty kicks while in U.S. goal.

Malik Tillman replaced an injured Cardoso in 20th minute.

Pochettino took over U.S. after Gregg Berhalter was fired for a first-round Copa America exit and started with a pair of friendlies last month.

Pochettino me six changes to starting lineup from last month’s 2-0 loss at Mexico, inserting McKenzie and midfielders Weston McKennie, Tanner Tessmann and Cardoso along with Pulsiic and Pepi.

McKennie got a yellow card in 50th minute for pulling down Leon Bailey from behind by jersey. Antonee Robinson and Bailey received yellow cards in 69th after teams got into a shoving confrontation.

Aidan Morris will miss both matches after spraining his right knee in training. Brenden Aaronson h flu-like symptoms and skipped trip, inste traveling to Missouri ahe of second leg.

Tim Weah served second match of his two-game suspension for a red card in Copa America for punching Panama’s Roderick Miller.

Jamaica forward Michail Antonio was suspended for yellow card accumulation. Reggae Boyz are led by former England manager Steve McClaren, hired after y went 0-3 at Copa America.