Soccer is the most incalculable sport in the world, and the sport shows this true fact again in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. A team can never imagine who will go to stop their dream run.
USMNT had witnessed this scenario in their recent fixture against Jamaica. America is going through a dream run but recently in the opening game against Jamaica in CONCACAF Gold Cup, they drew the match that put their dream run in huge doubt.
They showed a humdrum performance against a collation weaker side than them, but USMNT only managed to survive against them in the last phase of the fixture.
USMNT salvage point vs Jamaica
USMNT started the match as Champions of America after recently winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in an engrossing manner. But destiny had written something else to their fate.
Jamaica started the game in an unbelievable fashion as they took the lead within the first quarter of the match. In the 13th minute, of the game, Jamaica scored the opening goal.
Their defender Damion Lowe scored the opening goal for Jamaica and the tournament as well. Then, later in the 29th minute of the game they again got a penalty but their EPL striker Leon Bailey failed to convert it.
"You grow into a tournament."@AlexiLalas, @MauriceEdu, and @RobStoneONFOX share their final thoughts after the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup matchup between USA and Jamaica! pic.twitter.com/cy0A21KVFk
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 25, 2023
If Leon Bailey was able to score the goal then Jamaica could shock the USA with a defeat. After failing to score the goal Jamaica started to lose the rhythm of the game. In search of the equalizer, B.J. Callaghan put all their troops into the pitch.
America became desperate to find the equalizer and just before the 90 minutes, they got their long waited equalizer. Their substitute Brandon Vazquez scored the equalizer and saved the game for USMNT.
A poor performance from America could stop them to go deep into the tournament. America started without some of their playing 11 players as they might think that this fixture could be an easy win for them.
But later they were able to rescue the game due to the substitution made by their coaches. Brandon Vazquez come as a super sub for them in the second half to score a late equalizer in 88th minute and his goal proved to be the turning point of the game.
Underwhelming “B team” to grow deeper into the tournament
A team is only able to do good in a tournament and go deep if their bench is as strong as their starting 11. America started the game with most of the second-team players.
But in the game, we saw that their bench didn’t have enough strength to win a game when it was actually needed. This weakness could cost them the match if the manager didn’t make the substitution at the right time.
They need to increase their bench strength if they continue to enjoy their dream run.
What’s your thought on how America can increase their bench strength? tell us your tactics in the comment box below.
