The United States defeated Jamaica 3-1 in extra time on Thursday to secure a spot in the CONCACAF Nations League final in an exciting match at the AT&T Stadium in Texas. The defending champs' hero, Haji Wright, scored twice to seal the victory in an exciting match.
Wright, who recently propelled Coventry City to an upset English FA Cup win over Wolves, showcased his prowess once again with a stellar performance. Drafted into the US squad as a late replacement, the 25-year-old from Los Angeles delivered a match-winning cameo after coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute.
His first goal arrived in the 96th minute, capitalizing on a deft pass from Gio Reyna to beat Jamaica's goalkeeper Andre Blake. Wright then sealed the victory in the 109th minute, converting another superb assist from Reyna to make it 3-1.
Reflecting on the match, Wright emphasized the team's resilience, stating, "Grit and determination it wasn't a good start for us at the beginning of the game, but we found our way back and then came away with a two-goal lead at the end."
Reyna, who played a pivotal role in Wright's goals, expressed his determination to make an impact when called upon. "As a group, we pride ourselves on being ready when they're ready and Haji and I were both ready tonight," Reyna said.
The match saw Jamaica take an early lead through Greg Leigh's header just 30 seconds into the game. Despite fielding a depleted lineup due to injuries and suspensions, Jamaica held their ground for much of the match, frustrating the US with resilient defending.
However, a controversial equalizer in stoppage time after 90 minutes, with Miles Robinson's header deflecting off Jamaica's Cory Burke, levelled the score at 1-1, ultimately sending the game into extra-time.
The victory sets up a showdown for the United States against the winner of the semi-final between Mexico and Panama, with the US aiming to defend their CONCACAF Nations League title in Sunday's showdown.
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