Brandon Vazquez bagged a late equalizer as the USMNT’s de facto B-team battled back to secure a 1-1 draw with Jamaica in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup opener on Saturday.
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The defending champion Americans will wrap up group play with games against St. Kitts and Nevis (June 28) and Trinidad and Tobago (July 2).
The USMNT fell behind in the 13th minute, as Everton winger and new Reggae Boy Demarai Gray marked his debut with an assist. Gray floated a long free kick toward the near post, where Damion Lowe rose above the rest to bury a header past Matt Turner and give Jamaica a 1-0 lead.
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Things nearly went from bad to worse for the USMNT in the 27th minute, when Aidan Morris booted an opposing player in the stomach in a failed attempt to clear the ball. The foul resulted in a penalty kick being awarded to Jamaica, but Matt Turner, who wore the captain’s armband on his birthday on Saturday, denied Leon Bailey to keep it a one-goal game.
60 minutes later, Turner’s save paid off in a big way. The move started with Jesus Ferreira lifting a cross to the back post where it was headed down, but not away. The ball fell to Brandon Vazquez in a small pocket of space, and the FC Cincinnati striker smashed it home just six minutes after coming off the bench.
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Photo: FotMob.com
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USMNT vs Jamaica, final score: 1-1
13th minute – Damion Lowe heads home free kick to give Jamaica early lead
29th minute – Matt Turner saves Leon Bailey penalty kick to keep USMNT alive
88th minute – Brandon Vazquez is in the right place at the right time to make it 1-1
How to watch USMNT vs Jamaica live, stream link and start time
Kickoff: 10 pm ET, Saturday
TV channel, streaming in English: FS1
TV channel, streaming in Español: Univision
USMNT schedule – 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
vs Jamaica**** — June 24, 9:30pm ET — Chicago, Illinois
vs St. Kitts and Nevis**** — June 28, 9:30pm ET — St. Louis, Missouri
vs Trinidad and Tobago**** — July 2, 7pm ET — Charlotte, North Carolina
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USMNT grabs late equalizer vs Jamaica in Gold Cup opener originally appeared on NBCSports.com
