Ricardo Pepi put the United States in good position to advance to the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals, scoring an early goal for a 1-0 first-leg win over Jamaica on Thursday night in Kingston in the first competitive match for coach Mauricio Pochettino.

“We were there to fight. We knew it was going to be difficult,” Pepi said. “In the end we got the result and now it’s time to go take care of it at home.”

The return match of the total-goal quarterfinal is Monday in St. Louis, and the winner advances to a semifinal March 20 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The United States won the first three editions of the tournament.

Pepi scored on a pass from Christian Pulisic in the fifth minute, Matt Turner saved a penalty and the United States won with a shutout on the road for the first time since an exhibition in Cuba in 2016. The Americans owned 60 % of possession, but were dominated 12-6 on shots.

Jamaica went down a man shortly after Mason Holgate received his second yellow card for pushing Brandon Vázquez in the 86th, 10 minutes after his first for kicking Gianluca Busio.

Pulisic sparked the goal when he received a pass from Johnny Cardoso and dribbled into the center of the field. Pepi passed Amari’i Bell, ran at the ball and took a touch, then missed his shot but placed the ball outside goalkeeper Andre Blake’s far post for his 12th goal in 32 international caps.

“I just saw Christian between the lines and I thought I had space in behind, so I ran,” Pepi said after his third goal against Jamaica.

Pulisic became the 33rd player to play 75 matches in the United States. Pepi is the fourth American to score 12 international goals before the age of 22 after Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore and Pulisic.

Joe Scally’s gift led to Jamaica being awarded a penalty by Costa Rican referee Juan Gabriel Calderon. Kasey Palmer passed to Shamar Nicholson, who circled around Mark McKenzie and was brought down by Turner. The goalkeeper dove to his right to push away Demarai Gray’s kick in the 14th minute, Turner’s third save in eight shots on goal while in the U.S. goal.

Malik Tillman replaced the injured Cardoso in the 20th minute.

Pochettino took over the United States after Gregg Berhalter was dismissed for a first-round exit at the Copa America and started with two exhibition matches last month.

Pochettino made six changes to the starting line-up since the 2-0 away defeat to Mexico last month, inserting McKenzie and midfielders Weston McKennie, Tanner Tessmann and Cardoso as well as Pulsiic and Pepi.

McKennie received a yellow card in the 50th minute for knocking down Leon Bailey from behind by the jersey. Antonee Robinson and Bailey received yellow cards in the 69th after the teams clashed. American defender Tim Ream was not called for a possible handball in the second half.

Tim Weah has served the second match of his two-match suspension for a red card in the Copa America for hitting Panama’s Roderick Miller.

Aidan Morris will miss both matches after spraining his right knee in training. Brenden Aaronson had flu-like symptoms and skipped the trip, instead going to Missouri before the return game.

Jamaican striker Michail Antonio has been suspended for accumulating yellow cards. The Reggae Boyz are led by former England manager Steve McClaren, hired after going 0-3 in the Copa America.

Originally published: November 14, 2024 at 7:54 p.m. PST