The USMNT reached the final of the CONCACAF Nations League in extra time on Thursday evening with a 3-1 victory over Jamaica.
Greg Leigh scored 30 seconds into the 57th Reggae Boyz, and the No. 13 Americans were on the verge of losing their third straight match.
Instead, they eventually leveled deep into stoppage time when Miles Robinson’s header was deflected into his own goal by Jamaica’s Corey Burke.
Wright then scored in the sixth and 19th minutes of extra time with the US now trying to win the Nations League for the third time in a row on Sunday.
Both of Wright’s goals were scored by Gio Reyna, who came on at the start of the second half after being limited to 42 minutes in four substitute appearances for Nottingham Forest since joining on loan from Borussia Dortmund in January.
The disappointing performance comes just three months before the US hosts the Copa America and provides a worrying insight into their chances of success.
Haji Wright scored twice for the USMNT as they reached the Nations League final
Wright came off the bench to fire the USMNT in front after they scored a late equalizer
Jamaica took a shock lead after just 30 seconds through Gregory Leigh after poor defending
The unconvincing victory comes with just three months until the US hosts the Copa America
Four minutes of stoppage time were originally indicated in the second half and later five, and the clock read 5:25 when Christian Pulisic’s corner was headed in at the near post by Robinson.
The the ball was deflected via Jamaican striker Burke and past goalkeeper Andre Blakethe last goal for the Americans since Ricardo Clark scored in the seventh minute of stoppage time to beat Venezuela 1–0 in a friendly in 2012.
Wright, whose extra-time goal took Coventry City to the FA Cup semi-final last weekend, was a late injury replacement in the squad and had not played for the US since the 2022 World Cup.
He came on in the 63rd minute and scored after the ball was knocked away from Pulisic. Reyna collected the ball just beyond Reyna’s center circle and set a through ball aside to Wright, who turned left to create space and slipped past Blake.
Reyna then won a ball from Keroy Anderson and made another sharp pass through the defense. Wright turned to gain control of the ball and scored from 8 yards for his fourth goal in eight international appearances.
Leigh put Jamaica ahead after an Antonee Robinson throw-in was deflected to Fulham teammate Bobby De Cordova-Reid, who pushed the ball past Chris Richards and across the goal.
Leigh was left unnoticed by Joe Scally and headed the ball between goalkeeper Matt Turner and the post for his first goal in 13 international appearances.
Scally started at right back in place of Sergino Dest, suspended for his red card for arguing with the referee against Trinidad and Tobago in November.
Cory Burke (9) reacts after deflecting the ball into his own net to give the Americans hope
Gio Reyna came off the bench and shone, with passes for both of Wright’s goals
The crowd was sparse during the first half at AT&T Stadium, where Mexico played in the second game of the doubleheader.
With the US in new red, white and blue uniforms, defender Robinson was the only American starter from Major League Soccer.
Tyler Adams entered at 63rd in his first appearance since the 2022 World Cup after recovering from a torn right hamstring that required two surgeries.
Restricted to limited playing time as he regains fitness, Adams complained to coach Gregg Berhalter when he was removed after 10 minutes of added time.
Jamaica was missing many of its top players. Michail Antonio, Leon Bailey and Trivante Stewart were not with the team and Demarai Gray and Shamari Nicholson were suspended.
