Reggae Boyz lose 1-0 to USA in Nations League quarterfinal first leg

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against the USA in the first leg of their Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal at the National Stadium in Kingston on Thursday night.

Ricardo Pepi scored the lone goal in the fifth minute, giving the Americans a crucial advantage in their first competitive match under coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Christian Pulisic sparked the goal when he received a pass from Johnny Cardoso and dribbled up the center of the field. Pepi burst past Amari’i Bell, ran onto the ball and took a touch, then mis-hit his shot but put the ball in off goalkeeper Andre Blake’s far post for his 12th goal in 32 international appearances.

The Reggae Boyz had a chance to equalise in the 14th minute from the penalty but  goalkeeper Matt Turner dived low to his right to deny Demarai Gray from 12 yards.

Joe Scally’s giveaway led to Jamaica being awarded the penalty kick by Costa Rican referee Juan Gabriel Calderon. Kasey Palmer passed to Shamar Nicholson, who spun around Mark McKenzie and was pulled down by Turner. The goalkeeper dived to his right to bat away Gray’s effort, Turner's third save in eight penalty kicks while in the U.S. goal.

The Reggae Boyz finished a man short after debutant Mason Holgate was given his second yellow card for pushing Brandon Vázquez in the 86th, 10 minutes after his first for kicking Gianluca Busio.

Pulisic became the 33rd player to make 75 U.S. appearances. Pepi is the fourth American to score 12 international goals before age 22 after Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore and Pulisic.

Pochettino took over the U.S.  after Gregg Berhalter was fired for a first-round Copa America exit and started with a pair of friendlies last month.

Pochettino made six changes to the starting lineup from last month’s 2-0 loss at Mexico, inserting McKenzie and midfielders Weston McKennie, Tanner Tessmann and Cardoso along with Pulsiic and Pepi.

McKennie got a yellow card in the 50th minute for pulling down Leon Bailey from behind by the jersey. Antonee Robinson and Bailey received yellow cards in the 69th after teams got into a shoving confrontation.

The Reggae Boyz are led by former England manager Steve McClaren, hired after they went 0-3 at the Copa America.

The second leg of the total-goals series is Monday in St. Louis, and the winner advances to a March 20 semifinal at Inglewood, California.

The USA won the first three editions of the tournament.