Another Day at "The Office"

After a chaotic first 15 minutes, the USMNT

settled in and held on in first-leg victory

The U.S. Men's National Team took a big step toward qualifying for two important competitions next year with a 1-0 win over Jamaica in the opening leg of their Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series on Thursday in Kingston.

Striker Ricardo Pepi scored the game's lone goal in the 5th minute, finishing off a well-worked move involving Christian Pulisic and Johnny Cardoso. Goalkeeper Matt Turner also came up big for the Americans, saving a 14th-minute penalty kick to preserve the lead.

The win gives the USMNT a narrow 1-0 aggregate advantage heading into the second leg, which will be played on Nov. 18 in St. Louis. The winner of the two-game series will qualify for both the 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals and next summer's Concacaf Gold Cup.

In his third game in charge, new USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino named a starting lineup featuring the same back four as his first USMNT match, with Joe Scally, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson in front of Turner. Midfielders Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah also returned to the XI.

Jamaica quickly made their intentions known, pressing the Americans aggressively and trying to take advantage of the uneven playing surface at the National Stadium. But the U.S. found a swift response, with Pulisic setting up Pepi's opener in the opening five minutes. Pulisic, playing in a more free role, turned in the central space and found Pepi streaking in toward the goal.

The visitors nearly doubled their lead a couple of minutes later through chances from Robinson and Pulisic, but then, Jamaica were awarded a penalty when Turner fouled Shamar Nicholson. However, the goalkeeper atoned for his mistake, diving to his right to parry Demarai Gray's spot kick.

The second half saw the USMNT control possession more comfortably, though Jamaica did threaten late on. Substitute Brandon Vazquez nearly scored an insurance goal for the Americans, but his shot was blocked.

It became increasingly heated, with seven yellow cards shown in the second half, including a second caution for Jamaica's Mason Holgate which reduced them to 10 men. The U.S. saw out the victory, earning their fourth all-time win on Jamaican soil.

Next up for the USMNT is the decisive second leg on Nov. 18 in St. Louis, where a spot in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals and Gold Cup will be on the line.