Brandon Vazquez grabbed a late equalizer as the de facto Confederation B team fought back to win a 1-1 draw with Jamaica in the opening match of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday.
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The defending American champions will conclude group play with matches against St. Kitts and Nevis (June 28) and Trinidad and Tobago (July 2).
The USMNT fell behind in the 13th minute, as Everton winger and freshman reggae boy Demare Gray scored his debut with an assist. Gray roared a long free kick towards the near post, where Damion Lowe rose above the rest to header past Matt Turner and give Jamaica a 1–0 lead.
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Things almost went from bad to worse for the USMNT in the 27th minute, when Aidan Morris hit an opposing player in the stomach in a failed attempt to clear the ball. The foul led to Jamaica being awarded a penalty, but Matt Turner, who wore the captain’s armband on his birthday on Saturday, prevented Leon Bailey from keeping it by one goal.
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