USMNT vs. Jamaica score: Ricardo Pepi scores twice as USA Soccer gets World Cup qualifying campaign on track

The 18-year-old Pepi stole the show on Thursday night in Austin

The United States men's national team found out two things on Thursday night -- their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track and their striker. The Americans beat Jamaica, 2-0, in Austin, Texas in their fourth World Cup qualifier, stringing back-to-back wins together with Ricardo Pepi stealing the show. The victory provisionally lifted the team into first place in the qualifying table. 

Pepi, the 18-year-old star FC Dallas striker linked with a big move to Europe before long, scored twice early in the second half to continue his incredible early stages of his international career. Before last month's World Cup qualifiers, Pepi chose to represent the U.S. over Mexico. 

After two draws to start qualifying, the U.S. won 4-1 at Honduras in their latest match before following it up with a convincing performance Thursday night. With both Jamaica and the U.S. without important players due to injury, it was a fairly even first half, while the second half was all red, white and blue. 

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Pepi twice put himself in a dangerous position, unmarked in the box, finishing from about five yards out both times. The first came 49 minutes in after Yunus Musah fed Sergino Dest down the right, with the Barcelona man finding Pepi's head.

Then in the 62nd minute, it was Brenden Aaronson who recorded the easy assist by playing a wide-open Pepi across the face of goal.

Pepi made history with the brace, becoming the youngest player to score in back-to-back World Cup qualifiers for the USMNT.

Jamaica, without Leon Bailey and Michail Antonio, registered just one shot on goal and somehow finished the match with 11 men. There were a few instances in the first half where a red card could have been awarded, most notably Kemar Lawrence's challenge on Paul Arriola. The play denied the U.S. a goal-scoring opportunity but the Jamaica player was shown just a yellow card as a result.

The victory means the U.S. now just need one more victory this window to eclipse their five-point window from September. The Americans go to Panama on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET in a game you can see on Paramount+.

[Oct 7, 2021 at 9:50 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

USA 2, Jamaica 0 (FT)

[Oct 7, 2021 at 8:34 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Quite the uneventful first half. No real good chances for the U.S., and Jamaica are lucky to have 11 players after what could have been 2-3 red cards. 

[Oct 7, 2021 at 8:18 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

No chances of note quite yet

That's zero shots on goal for both teams 32 minutes in ... some decent looks to get players into space, but the golden opportunities just haven't been there. Jamaica are sitting in a low block and challenging the U.S. to try and break it down, just like Canada.

[Oct 7, 2021 at 7:58 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Musah and McKennie are struggling a bit in terms of their spacing, with McKennie trying to tell Musah where to be positioned when trying to get the attack going.

[Oct 7, 2021 at 7:57 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

11' What a hit from Jamaica!

McGee with a fine hit from 30 yards that tests Turner! Almost went upper 90 on Turner but the ball goes over the goal. What a hit.

[Oct 7, 2021 at 7:48 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

1' A yellow for Jamaica ... could have been red

Pepi plays Arriola through, and Lawrence takes him down with a tug. That should have been a red, but the ref gives a yellow. Remember, no VAR ... 

[Oct 7, 2021 at 7:45 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Underway!!!!

[Oct 7, 2021 at 7:40 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

The teams are walking onto the pitch as fireworks go off. National anthems are next, and then the match will begin. Just moments away!

[Oct 7, 2021 at 7:24 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Kickoff is just moments away. Big spot for the U.S. where a win here eases the pressure on Sunday and sets them up so well for the rest of this window. Personally, six points I think would be a fine haul, but Berhalter and company are certainly counting on seven, especially considering the U.S. hasn't lost a match yet.

[Oct 7, 2021 at 7:14 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Some are surprised to see Paul Arriola starting at RW, wanting Tim Weah. The truth is, both have been playing well for their clubs, but Arriola has looked super sharp for DC United and is worth a look. He's got five goals in 17 games and has done a fantastic job with his delivery. He'll be tasked with setting up Pepi.

[Oct 7, 2021 at 6:46 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Jamaica storylines

They were always unlikely to get much for this game, but their chances took a massive hit with the news that their two most talented players, Michail Antonio and Leon Bailey, are both absent due to injury. That means the individual quality that both possess, as well as they ability to set up teammates, is gone from a match where they really, really needed it. As a result, goalkeeper Andre Blake is likely going to have to play out of his mind to help them get even a point.