Christian Pulisic scores twice as USA easily beats Jamaica

LOS ANGELES – United States coach Mauricio Pochettino is calling for continued improvement from his team, despite Christian Pulisic’s stellar performance in their 4-2 victory over Jamaica on Nov 18. Pulisic scored twice to secure their spot in the Concacaf Nations League semi-finals, but Pochettino believes there is still room for growth and development within the squad.

AC Milan star Pulisic produced a dazzling display at St. Louis’ Citypark Stadium to give the Americans a comfortable 5-2 aggregate victory following their 1-0 first-leg win in Kingston.

“For 45 minutes we played in a way we want to grow, and it was fantastic for the players,” said Pochettino, who was appointed in September.

“In the way that they adapt to all the concepts and the way we try to play showed that we have players who can learn quickly. But in the second half, we didn’t approach the game in the way we wanted.

“The goal was to win the second half, and we didn’t approach it with the same intensity and mentality. It shows we still have things we need to improve.”

In-form US striker Ricardo Pepi, who scored the only goal in last week’s away leg, was on target again while Juventus winger Tim Weah scored the fourth.

Saudi Arabia-based Demarai Gray grabbed two second-half goals to give the final scoreline a look of respectability but the Reggae Boyz were soundly beaten in all departments.

Pulisic opened the scoring for the home side in the 13th minute, meeting a lofted pass from Weston McKennie on the edge of the area and driving a low finish past Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake.

The forward then doubled the US lead on 33 minutes after a flowing counter-attack, before Pepi’s 42nd-minute goal.

At 3-0 down, there was a brief flicker of hope for Jamaica when Gray hooked in a deft angled volley to make it 3-1 on 53 minutes, but Weah slammed the door shut moments later with the Americans’ fourth goal.

Gray bagged Jamaica’s second but it was too little too late for former England manager Steve McClaren’s side.

The Jamaicans were without West Ham United striker Michail Antonio and Charlton Athletic’s Kaheim Dixon after losing their passports.

McClaren confirmed before the match that the pair would be unable to travel even after the Jamaican Federation reportedly scrambled to get visas, but were told it was too late to apply. 

“Antonio and Dixon lost passports, it was too late to get new ones and to get visas to come over here, so they are missing,” he said. AFP