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In this episode, Santiago and Hal recaps the latest on the Godl Cup and recap the 2023 NBA Draft.
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Hal Phillips – @mandarinhal
USA 1 Jamaica 1
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.
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.
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.
Jamaica scored early in the match from Damion Lowe in the 13th minute.
Damion Lowe (Jamaica) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Demarai Gray with a cross following a set piece situation.
Goal! USA 1, Jamaica 1. Brandon Vazquez (USA) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Starting Lineups
USA (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Turner (GK) — 2. Yedlin, 4. Miazga, 3. Long (Neal, 46′), 21. Tolkin (Vazquez, 80′) — 7. Sonora (Mihailovic, 65′), 8. Sands, 13. A. Morris — 13. J. Morris (Cowell, 54′), 9. Ferreira, 17. Zendejas (Roldan, 65′).
Jamaica (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Blake (GK) — 2. Lembiska, 19. Mariappa, 17. Lowe, 4. Bell (Lawrence, 65′) — 10. Reid, 15. Latibeaudiere, 3. Lambert, 7. Bailey (D. Johnson, 90′) — 12. Grey (Nicholson, 90′), 18. Antonio (Burke, 75′).
Jamaica were almost certainly the better side. They featured four Premier League players in their starting lineup, including forwards Demarai Gray and Michail Antonio, plus Andre Blake, who has been the best goalkeeper in MLS for years.
The U.S., meanwhile, essentially deployed its C team, and coach BJ Callaghan will want to consider making changes for the rest of the group stage.
Other results
Trinidad Tobago 3 St. Kitts and Nevis 0
Haiti 2 Qatar 1
Mexico 4 Honduras 0
NBA Draft Results
- San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama
- Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller
- Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson
- Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson
- Detroit Pistons: Ausar Thompson
- Orlando Magic: Anthony Black
- Washington Wizards (via Indiana): Bilal Coulibaly
- Indiana Pacers (via Washington): Jarace Walker
- Utah Jazz: Taylor Hendricks
- Oklahoma City Thunder (via Dallas): Cason Wallace
- Orlando Magic (from Chicago): Jett Howard
- Dallas Mavericks (via Oklahoma City): Dereck Lively II
- Toronto Raptors: Gradey Dick
- New Orleans Pelicans: Jordan Hawkins
- Atlanta Hawks: Kobe Bufkin
- Utah Jazz (from Minnesota): Keyonte George
- Los Angeles Lakers: Jalen Hood-Schifino
- Miami Heat: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
- Golden State Warriors: Brandin Podziemski
- Houston Rockets (from LA Clippers): Cam Whitmore
- Brooklyn Nets (from Phoenix): Noah Clowney
- Brooklyn Nets: Dariq Whitehead
- Portland Trail Blazers (from New York): Kris Murray
- Dallas Mavericks: (via Sacramento): Olivier-Maxence Prosper
- Detroit Pistons (via Boston and Memphis): Marcus Sasser
- Indiana Pacers (from Cleveland): Ben Sheppard
- Charlotte Hornets (from Denver via New York and Oklahoma City): Nick Smith Jr.
- Utah Jazz (from Philadelphia via Brooklyn): Brice Sensabaugh
- Denver Nuggets (from Indiana): Julian Strawther
- LA Clippers (from Milwaukee via Houston): Kobe Brown