Jamaica downs USMNT on Nicholson's strike
Shamar Nicholson's goal in the 60th minute was enough to give Jamaica 1-0 win over the United States men's national team in a friendly at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
The match was the first of two warm-ups before the start of the CONCACAF Gold Cup when the U.S. opens defense of its 2017 title on June 18 vs. Guyana at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn.
More important, the Jamaica game was the last before the U.S. must submit its 23-man roster for the Gold Cup.
Several U.S. standouts such as attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic and right back Tyler Adams have yet to join the team after their European seasons, and forwards Jozy Altidore and Gyasi Zardes did not dress against Jamaica.
As such, the U.S. -- whose starting 11 averaged 24 years, 172 days and 15 international appearances -- was disjointed and outplayed for the majority of the match.
The result was the first defeat for new U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter, whose record fell to 3-1-1.
"Overall, the effort was OK, but we performed poorly tonight," Berhalter said.
U.S. goalkeeper Zack Steffen created his own problems in the 13th minute when a lax outlet pass was intercepted by Dever Orgill, but Steffen made a recovery and prevented a goal.
Steffen bailed the Americans out in the 53rd minute when he stopped a long strike by Kevon Lambert, but he wasn't so lucky seven minutes later, when Cristian Roldan turned the ball over in the center circle to put Jamaica on the transition.
That was enough to create the go-ahead goal. Lambert got the ball ahead to Nicholson, who created space on Wil Trapp with a sharp cutback to his right. Nicholson then ripped a 25-yard rising shot past Steffen into the top left corner.
Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake of the Philadelphia Union made his only save in the 88th minute, an outstanding diving stop at the left post on Josh Sargent.
Steffen made four saves for Team USA.
The U.S. will field a lineup closer to its Gold Cup unit when it plays Venezuela at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday.
--Field Level Media
