da doce： GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Saturday's 1-1 draw with Jamaica.
da roleta： From the moment it was announced, the match against Jamaica was earmarked as a massive test for the U.S. men's national team. A Gold Cup opener against a strong Reggae Boyz team loaded with Premier League experience? A tough ask, especially for a USMNT roster that's nowhere near an A-team.
It was, perhaps, even more difficult than expected too, as Jamaica were just moments away from handing the U.S. their first Gold Cup group stage loss in over a decade. Damian Lowe's opener looked like it could be enough as the U.S. struggled to do much of anything right against a Jamaica team that was clicking.
Then came Brandon Vazquez's goal, an 88th-minute finish that helped the U.S. salvage a point via a 1-1 draw. They'll take that result and run, for sure, as, for most of the match, it looked like one they'd never secure. With it, though, their Gold Cup is off to an okay start, even if the performance itself left plenty to be concerned about.
The next two matches will be easier, as the U.S. will take on Saint Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago in the final two group stage matches. The road will get tougher after that and, if this was any indication, the U.S. will have to improve a whole lot if they want to push for another Gold Cup title.
GettyWINNER: Matt Turner
Chalk this result up to the USMNT having a truly fantastic goalkeeper.
B.J. Callaghan revealed on Saturday that Turner specifically asked to play in both the Nations League and Gold Cup, and, boy, will the USMNT be glad he did. Turner was the difference on Saturday night, salvaging a tournament-opening point the U.S. would not have gotten without him.
His penalty save from Leon Bailey was the obvious highlight, for sure, but this was a performance about more than that. On a night when the U.S. needed leadership, Turner was composed, both with his hands and with his feet.
It was just another example of how good Turner is and why he's the USMNT No.1. Will he be for the entire tournament? We'll see, as Gaga Slonina could get minutes. But, if the U.S. wants to win this thing, they'll need to count on Turner, and all the evidence says that he can be relied on.
AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Aidan Morris
Just not the day Morris needed.
He conceded the penalty and never looked fully comfortable. He committed two fouls on the day, with one being the spot kick and the other setting up the free kick for Jamaica's goal.
If the penalty wasn't the lowlight, it was Bailey dribbling circles around him as Morris had trouble dealing with a different level of player. Overall, it just was a performance with too many negatives to justify the few positives he brought to the table.
That's a tough one for Morris, who is battling for a spot as a backup No.6. This match also cap-tied him to the USMNT, taking away any chance of him playing for Canada. There's no reason to give up on him just yet as he could still become a hell of a midfielder. However, this wasn't the start he needed as he looks to make his mark.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Brandon Vazquez
On the flip side, Vazquez is a player that definitely made his mark in limited minutes.
Brought into the match late after a decent performance from Jesus Ferreira, Vazquez scored the game-tying goal to help the U.S. steal a point. It was a scrappy finish, no doubt, as he fired home a rebound, but you have to credit him for his composure in a big moment.
Will this shuffle the striker depth chart? Possibly. Ferreira did a lot of good stuff on Saturday, but he still hasn't been able to do the one thing that matters, score, when playing on the international level. Vazquez did just that and, because he offers a different sort of game than Ferreira, there's a chance he could be the guy.
He simply has more of a presence up top than Ferreira, who is more of a creative outlet. Vazquez certainly made his case, so it'll be interesting to see how Callaghan picks the No.9 going forward.
GettyLOSER: The starting centerbacks
Aaron Long has taken a lot of heat from the USMNT fanbase, some of it warranted and some of it not. Still, it's pretty clear that Long is not one of the best centerbacks in the USMNT pool anymore. In his 45 minutes of action, the U.S. looked shaky and, after he came off due to an injury, the U.S. looked much better.
Long, though, wasn't at fault for Jamaica's goal, as the blame for that one will fall to Matt Miazga. The FC Cincinnati star seemed to botch an offside trap, keeping half of Jamaica's team onside for Lowe's free header. It's the type of mistake that just can't happen at this level.
Despite starting two veterans, the U.S. looked unsettled throughout. It will almost certainly be the last time we see this centerback pairing together. One reason is because Miles Robinson could be set to return, while the other reason is the guy who's next on this list…