By Juan Carlos Maygua
A world-class display by Serginho Dest helped the USMNT clinch a dominant victory over Jamaica. The man of the match continued his scoring streak from his latest club performance, while newcomer Yannus Musah got his first start for the National team. The squad now works towards the game against Northern Ireland next week.
The blueprint
In my previous article, I mentioned the importance behind names like Christian Pulisic and Sergino Dest for the future of U.S. Soccer. The game against Jamaica not only showcased a solid performance but also helped the world confirm that this new group of players are ready to do important things in the coming years. In what could be described as a “Messi-Style” kind of goal, Dest opened the score with a curved shot from outside the box after cutting in from the left side. The goal was his first-ever with the National team, so things look bright for the talented defender. He was also able to connect well with Pulicic, striking good combinations on the wing.
Brenden Aaronson finished balancing the game in favor of the National team after scoring the second goal shortly after coming off the bench. I had the chance to ask him about that crucial moment when he spoke in the post-game conference. “It’s always tough to come off the bench, but I’m happy I was able to make an impact so quickly, especially if it put the game in our favor”. Josh Sargent was key in that goal, his movements created the space for Aaronson to score. Head Coach Gerry Berhalter also praises Sargent’s performance saying that “He works hard, but I want him to be more active in the penalty box. He had a couple of chances, but that’s something we will work on”. The scoreboard was completed with a double by Sebastian Lletget in the closing minutes of the game having Sargent play a big part in both of his goals with movements to drag opponents with him. Lletget is part of the core players that started with Berhalter, making him one of the most experienced players in the camp. He was asked if he felt overshadowed by all of the new and younger members of the team, but he pointed out that he was happy to see players like Pulicic and Dest display their abilities. This was my first time seeing him play, but if there is a chance he should be kept on board as the leader.
The future looks bright after this performance, but something that caught my attention is Gio Reyna’s struggle with himself to find the net. He had difficulty finishing a few plays but I’m confident that with time Gio will be a goal scorer without a doubt. Berhalter also addressed the decision to substitute Pulisic in the second half. “We talked about it before the game, so it was planned, we want to get him fit step by step”. Pulisic also showed frustration as he was unable to finish the chances he created. Unlike Reyna, Pulisic will stay for the second game against Northern Ireland, a game that could redeem the missed opportunities against Jamaica. On a personal level, I believe that this new generation can achieve unprecedented things if they continue showing this level. Pulisic might be the symbol of the National team, but Dest for me is the player to follow up closely.