Late Vazquez goal gives USMNT draw against Jamaica in Gold Cup opener
The 1-1 game came a week after the Americans won the Nations League
The USMNT opened their Gold Cup defense on Saturday night with a 1-1 draw against Jamaica at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The draw came a week after the United States had won the CONCACAF Nations League and only when second-half substitute Brandon Vazquez’s leveled the score two minutes from time.
It marked the fourth straight Gold Cup match since 2021 that the USMNT had scored the winning or tying goal after the 83rd minute.
With only five players remaining from the team that triumphed last week, interim manager B.J. Callaghan’s lineup saw six players make their debuts in an official competition. They included starters Aidan Morris, Alan Sonora and John Tolkin, along with subs Cade Cowell, Jalen Neal and Vazquez.
Jamaica proved to be a tricky opponent. They took the lead in the 13th minute when Damion Lowe finished a free kick with a diving header from eight yards out to beat Matt Turner.
The Reggae Boyz nearly doubled the lead in the 27th minute, but Turner — who was celebrating his 29th birthday — gave his teammates a gift by making a diving save on Leon Bailey’s penalty kick.
Only down 1-0, The U.S. nearly tied the game in stoppage time of the first half, but Jamaica’s Andre Blake made a great save on Jordan Morris’s attempt.
The United States will face Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday at CityPark in St. Louis in their second Group A encounter.