In a hard-fought CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal match, Christian Pulisic played a crucial role in the United States’ 1-0 win over Jamaica on November 14, 2024. The victory gave new coach Mauricio Pochettino his first competitive win with the team.
Ricardo Pepi scored the decisive goal in the fifth minute, finishing a beautiful pass from Pulisic. The early strike proved to be the difference-maker as the USMNT held on for a shutout victory on Jamaican soil.
“It was a tough match, but we showed a lot of grit and determination,” said Pulisic after the game. “We knew it wouldn’t be easy playing away, but we came out strong and got the result we wanted.”
Pulisic’s assist was his 75th for the USMNT, making him the 33rd player in history to reach this milestone. The Chelsea star also drew praise for his defensive work throughout the match, often tracking back to help protect the lead.
Matt Turner made several crucial saves, including stopping a penalty kick in the 14th minute. His heroics in goal helped preserve the shutout and gave the Americans an important road victory.
The win sets up a decisive second leg next Monday in St. Louis. With their first-leg advantage, the USMNT will look to advance to the Nations League semifinals and potentially secure qualification for both the tournament finals and the Gold Cup.
“This was a great team effort,” said Pochettino. “We showed character and resilience. Now we need to build on this momentum going into the second leg.”
