USA beat Boyz 4-1 in friendly

The national senior men's team first match of 2021 ended in defeat as they fell 4-1 to the United States in their international friendly in Austria yesterday.

Sergino Dest opened the scoring for the Americans in the 34th minute with an excellent long-range effort and second-half substitute Brenden Aaronson doubled the lead in the 52nd minute as he tapped home from close range. Debutant Jamal Lowe reduced the deficit to one with a great effort in the 70th minute for his first international goal.

However, Sebastian Lletget restored the Americans' two-goal advantage in the 83rd minute and added another in the 90th to secure the win. It is the USA's 17th win against the Reggae Boyz since the two countries have been playing each other.

Head coach Theodore Whitmore said that game offered an opportunity to assess the new members of the team, specifically the England-born players who made their international debuts.

"It's hard to make go in any specific assessment of the game. I can say that the game provided me with an opportunity to look on new talent and a chance again to fit the missing pieces," Whitmore said. "I hope to [get] one or two more games before the Gold Cup but I do see positive signs going ahead."