Copa America 2020 Group B: Six-Goal Draw Between Americans and Jamaicans

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Six-Goal Draw Between Americans and Jamaicans

June 24, 2020

USA 3 Jamaica 3

 

Six goals saw an epic draw take place between the USA and Jamaica in their second encounter of Copa America 2020, with a hat trick for Christian Pulisic and a brace for Daniel Johnson.

 

The Americans and Jamaicans kept their starting eleven, as both sides looked to attack early, with Tyler Adams having the first ping to the right of goal. Weston McKennie brought about a great save by Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake. However, it was Pulisic who nailed his header off the corner, giving the United States the early lead.

 

Down the Jamaican end, the Caribbean side earned a penalty after Shamar Nicholson had two shots, with the first saved by Matthew Turner, and the second blocked by a sliding DeAndre Yedlin. However, in doing so, the ball fell on the goal side of Yedlin. He accidentally hit the ball with his hand and pushed it over his own body back towards his keeper. The referee was hot on it and awarded the spot kick. Amari’i Bell stepped up and made no mistake, just to the left of a standing Turner.

 

McKennie had a shot blocked as the United States searched for the lead again. Jamaica did the same, with Leon Bailey at the forefront of their advances. Later, Damion Lowe ran onto a free kick and should have scored, only to miss the mark.

 

Right as the break approached, Bailey had his shot partially saved onto the post. Instead, the United States counterattacked, and Timothy Weah crossed to Pulisic, who made no mistake with his head.

 

Pulisic then backed it up straight after halftime with a shot hitting the post, before sliding into the rebound and earning his hat trick.

 

Alvas Powell nearly gained back a goal for Jamaica, only for Turner to make the crucial save as the right back ran, passed, then received and shot.

 

Instead, Daniel Johnson scored as he ran onto a cutback pass, shooting with his left into the back of the net. The match suddenly became interesting again, with Jamaica hot and ready to score an equaliser.

 

Cory Burke nearly equalised with his volley saved by Turner. Bailey also brought about a Turner save with his header from a left-winger cross. Substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid had a header from the resulting corner, only to miss to the left of goal.

 

Jamaica kept attacking, with Nicholson taking a shot with a small chance of success, and Turner closing the shot down enough.

 

However, with seconds remaining, Daniel Johnson scored the second of his brace, as the ball came in from the left wing. Bailey thought he was being closely marked, and so when he won the header, he pushed the ball to Johnson instead of having a shot. Johnson, with his diving header, found the gap between Turner and the post, and ensured Jamaica earned their first point of the tournament.

 

With that comeback, Jamaica is on the same points as Brazil, and one behind the Americans. Paraguay, meanwhile, are guaranteed top spot in the group, though it is uncertain who they will play in the Quarter Finals.

 

 

	Group B	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Paraguay	2	2	0	0	6	+4
2	USA	2	0	2	0	2	0
3	Brazil	2	0	1	1	1	-1
4	Jamaica	2	0	1	1	1	-3

 

Jamaica will replace Blair Turgott with Bobby De Cordova-Reid, but the rest will remain.