Pepi double gives US win over Jamaica

Austin, Oct. 8 (BNA): (Reuters) – Two-half double Ricardo Pepe gave the United States a 2-0 win over Jamaica on Thursday to remain unbeaten in the CONCACAF 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

After opening the group with two draws, the United States has now won twice in a row, with 18-year-old Pepe becoming the youngest American player to score in back-to-back World Cup playoffs, Reuters reports.

The win earned the United States an eight-point lead with Mexico, who drew 1-1 with Canada at the Azteca Stadium in a furious match that was interrupted briefly in the second half when spectators began chanting anti-gay insults.

The top three in the eight-team group automatically qualify for Qatar 2022 with the fourth-placed team going to an Intercontinental Playoff for another spot.

Pepe put the United States ahead in the 49th minute in Austin, Texas, when a superb cross header from Sergino Dest. He added the second goal after 13 minutes, as he sent a cross from Brendan Aaronson and stabbed it in the goal of Andre Blake to achieve his third goal in two matches with the national team.

Hosts Mexico opened the scoring in the 21st minute with Jorge Sanchez taking advantage of the collapse of Canada’s defense.

Jonathan Osorio scored the equalizer in the 42nd minute, as he ran a ball from Alphonso Davies and bedded it past goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa to give Canada their first goal against Mexico in the Azteca since 1980.

“The positives, we take a point in a tough spot and keep moving forward,” Osorio said.

“It’s a big goal for me and for Canada, it’s just another step in the right direction but we know we still have a lot of work to do.”

Mexico was booed off the field after Canada dominated the game with Davis missing from close range and Stephen Vitoria’s header flying over the far post.

Things went poorly in the second half with Tecateto Corona and Richie Larria entering into an exchange that resulted in yellow cards, which was soon followed by anti-gay chants that resulted in the match being halted and a field warning issued.

In other qualifiers, Honduras and Costa Rica tied 0-0 in San Pedro Sula while El Salvador got the three points in a 1-0 win over Panama with a first-half goal scored by Enrico Duenas.

Canada has six points, two points behind the leaders, while El Salvador and Panama have five. Costa Rica and Honduras have three points while Jamaica backs the group by one point.

NS