YUNUS MUSAH

Defender Chris Richards and midfielder Gianluca Busio entered the U.S. lineup for a match at Jamaica as the Americans started their second-youngest lineup ever in a World Cup qualifier.

As much as American soccer players want wins, they crave respect.

Christian Pulisic scored on a glancing header with his first touch of the game in the 74th minute and Weston McKennie added a goal in the 85th to lift the United States over Mexico 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier.

PANAMA CITY, Panama — (AP) — The United States changed seven starters for Sunday night’s World Cup qualifier against Panama, inserting forward Gyasi Zardes along with midfielders Kellyn Acosta, Sebastian Lletget and winger Tim Weah. Right back Shaq Moore, central defender Mark McKenzie and left back George Bello also were in the lineup. Returning from the lineup that started Thursday’s 2-0 win over Jamaica were goalkeeper Matt Turner, central defender Walker Zimmerman, midfielder Yunus Musah and winger Paul Arriola. Acosta played his 19th consecutive national team match, the longest streak since 35 by Landon Donovan from 2001-03. Turner’s 11 straight games in goal is the most since Brad Guzan in 2015 and four shy of the record set by Tony Meola from 1990-91.

Yunus Musah visited New York in June with teammate Tim Weah and had a wide-eyed view of the big city. “I remember going to the — what’s that called — that big tall building?” Musah said with a chuckle. “The view from there was crazy,” Musah said.

The four played key roles in a 2-0 win over Jamaica that put the youthful group into first place in World Cup qualifying heading into Sunday’s match at Panama. Aaronson and Adams were among the group that left San Pedro Sula on an overnight charter for London and Berlin. “We put up the minutes of the past week, and he’s a guy that was dragging,” Berhalter said. And he did it.”Paul Arriola, at 26 one of the Americans’ veterans, missed the September qualifiers with a hamstring injury. While only going 90 minutes once, he, too, played six games from Sept. 11 through Oct. 2.

World Cup qualifying has become a game for the young, with stamina to withstand travel and short recovery time.

WCup Jamaica US Soccer United States' Walker Zimmerman leaps above Jamaica's Shamar Nicholson (11) to head the ball during a FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (Eric Gay)AUSTIN, Texas — (AP) — Ricardo Pepi got a pair of goals early in the second half, becoming at 18 the youngest American to score in consecutive World Cup qualifiers, and the United States dominated Jamaica in a 2-0 victory Thursday night. Pepi made his Major League Soccer debut for Dallas in June 2019 and decided just before the start of qualifying to play for the U.S. over Mexico. 59 Jamaica, which has not gone to the World Cup since 1998, has one point after four matches. Goalkeeper Matt Turner rolled the ball to his right flank, where Dest ran onto it just outside his own penalty area.

AUSTIN, Texas — (AP) — Walker Zimmerman, Yunus Musah and Paul Arriola were given their first starts of this World Cup qualifying cycle and Weston McKennie returned from a two-match banishment when the United States played Jamaica on Thursday night. Forward Ricardo Pepi was the only other holdover from the starting lineup in the 4-1 win at Honduras on Sept. 8. Midfielder Brenden Aaronson and left back Antonee Robinson also were in the starting lineup against the Reggae Boyz after entering at the start of the second half in Honduras. They were joined in the starting lineup by right back Sergiño Dest, who missed the match at Honduras because of a sprained ankle. Zimmerman and Musah made their World Cup qualifying debuts, raising the U.S. total to 18 in four matches.

Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna are missing from the U.S. lineup because of injuries but Weston McKennie will start in a World Cup qualifier against Jamaica after missing two games for violating team COVID protocols.

(Laurence Griffiths/Pool via AP)CHICAGO – Defender Bryan Reynolds received his first call-up to the U.S. national team after the 19-year-old made his debut for Roma last weekend. Chituru Odunze, an 18-year-old goalkeeper with Leicester, also could debut in exhibitions against Jamaica on March 25 at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, or three days later at Northern Ireland. Forward Matthew Hoppe, who has scored five goals for Schalke this season, was not called in for a possible debut. Germany), Luca de la Torre (Heracles, Netherlands), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Yunus Musah (Valencia, Spain), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton, England). Forwards: Daryl Dike (Barnsley, England), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen, France), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea, England), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen, Germany), Tim Weah (Lille, France).

Nicholas Gioacchini and Sebastian Soto each scored their first two international goals in a 6-2 exhibition rout of Panama on Monday night at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, the second of two matches for the Americans that followed a 10-month pandemic break. Gio Reyna got his first goal three days after his 18th birthday, the third-youngest player to score in modern era. Sebastian Lletget also got a goal in a physical, open match against a CONCACAF rival that reached the 2018 World Cup over the Americans. By the time qualifying comes we'll be ready to compete.”José Fajardo scored his first two goals for Panama. The U.S. has used 90 players since the October 2017 defeat at Trinidad and Tobago that eliminated the Americans from the 2018 World Cup, including 52 debuting.

United States' Giovanni Reyna instructs his teammates during the international friendly soccer match between Wales and USA at Liberty stadium in Swansea, Wales, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)Gio Reyna walked onto the field for his U.S. national team debut, just like mom Danielle in 1993, just like dad Claudio in 1994. Reyna played 78 minutes Thursday night and was among six debuts for the Americans in a 0-0 tie against Wales in an exhibition at Swansea. And overall, a 17-year-old debuting and he didn’t look like that.”Claudio Reyna made 112 international appearances from 1994 to 2006, playing in three World Cups. Reyna was in a mobile and dynamic midfield, combining with 21-year-old Tyler Adams of Leipzig and 22-year-old Weston McKennie of Juventus.