FC Dallas forward Ricardo Pepi scores 2 more goals, lifts US over Jamaica in qualifier

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Ricardo Pepi and the young Americans saw a red, white and blue crowd, a scene rarely seen in past US World Cup qualifiers, then dominated Jamaica behind the new 18-year-old sensation and advanced to the first place.

“We just sit there and sit on the train,” said US coach Gregg Berhalter on Thursday evening after Pepi scored in the 49th and 62nd minute in the 2-0 win against Jamaica. “It’s wonderful. I mean, an 18 year old gets a chance and takes it. What you see, and I think what I really like, he has that instinct and it’s really hard to teach players that. And he has the instinct to score. “

Born in El Paso, Pepi, who scored his first international goal on his international debut on September 8 in Honduras to break a tie in the second half, became the youngest American to score in consecutive qualifiers.

With family and friends in the stands, he scored the first goal of a flowing movement that the US can produce as best it can, which left the reggae boyz 17-5 behind.

Goalkeeper Matt Turner rolled the ball onto his right flank, where Sergiño Dest ran onto it just outside of his own box. In a push of about 10 seconds, Dest sprinted forward while making five touches and centering the ball on Yunus Musah, who was on the run.

Musah made his qualifying debut, taking four touches and passing Dest, who made a cross once. Pepi broke away from Damion Lowe and directed a downward header from around 8 yards that went right from goalkeeper Andre Blake after a rebound.

“Jamaica was so compact we had to get on the wings,” said Pepi. “We have unlocked it.”

Americans used space.

“We just didn’t get our press right,” said Jamaica defender Adrian Mariappa. “Sometimes it just got a little naive.”

Pepi scored again when he diverted a Brenden Aaronson cross past Blake from 6 yards after Antonee Robinson quickly pushed up the cross.

“It’s a special feeling to score a goal here in Texas,” said Pepi.

Pepi made his Major League Soccer debut for Dallas in June 2019 and decided to play for the US against Mexico just before qualifying began this summer. His sudden rise to the international stage has sparked the interest of European clubs interested in a transfer.

“I had a feeling it was coming,” he said over all the attention. “I don’t know if it’s too fast or too slow. I have a feeling that it is coming and whatever will come, and I have a feeling that I have to be prepared for it. “

Without the injured attackers Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna, the 13th improved to eight points after four of 14 games in the finals of the North and Central America and Caribbean region. Mexico dropped to second on goal difference after being held in a 1-1 draw against Canada, who are in third place with six.

Honduras and Costa Rica each have three points after going 0-0 in San Pedro Sula. No. 59 Jamaica, which has not participated in the World Cup since 1998, has a point after four games. El Salvador were at home in a late game against Panama.

Five other Americans made their qualifying debuts, bringing the total to 21 in four games.

“You were dead in the second half.” said Aaronson. “We made them tired because of the first half, then we run into the back.”

Musah like Pepi is 18 and Aaronson, Musah and Dest are 20. The energy showed up.

In the first minute, Aaronson passed Pepi, who passed the ball to Paul Arriola. Kemar Lawrence pulled him to the ground and received a yellow card from Grenada’s referee Reon Radix.

“It’s early in the game, I don’t think it should be a red card,” said Aaronson, “but maybe it could be.”

Jamaica missed West Ham striker Mikhail Antonio, who chose not to travel, and injured Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey.

“In the second half we lost our discipline and the US team took advantage of our mistakes,” said Jamaica coach Theodore Whitmore.

Turner reached up to parry Lowe’s 41st-minute shot at the far post. That was Jamaica’s only shot on goal.

“I don’t think we even see ourselves as young people anymore,” said Aaronson. “We got into a situation in which the whole country is looking at us and we have to perform, and everyone accepts this challenge.”

Next up for the USA is a Sunday game in Panama – on the fourth anniversary of the defeat in Trinidad that kept the Americans from the 2018 World Cup.

“We can’t get too carried away,” said Berhalter. “The trap will be that we think we are great and we think we qualified for the World Cup and if we do we will kick our asses in Panama on Sunday.”

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