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.
Goalkeeper Matt Turner, central defender Miles Robinson and midfielder Tyler Adams were given their fourth straight starts in qualifying by coach Gregg Berhalter. 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. Arriola missed the September games with a hamstring injury and Zimmerman was on the bench.
Adams captained the U.S., which had an average age of 23 years, 111 days, the second-youngest for the Americans in a qualifier behind 23 years, 85 days in Honduras.
Robinson and Turner each started their 10th consecutive U.S. match.
McKennie started the opening 0-0 draw at El Salvador on Sept. 2, then was dropped before the 1-1 tie against Canada three days later for violating team COVID protocols and was sent home.
Goalkeeper Sean Johnson, defender DeAndre Yedlin and midfielder Gianluca Busio did not dress.
On the bench and in position to make qualifying debuts were Matthew Hoppe, Luca de la Torre, Shaq Moore Chris Richards, Zack Steffen and Tim Weah.
Jamaica coach Theodore Whitmore made three changes from the lineup that started the 1-1 draw at Costa Rica on Sept. 8, inserting midfielders Je-Vaughn Watson and Jamal Lowe along with forward Bobby Decordova-Reid.
Decordova-Reid is a teammate of Antonee Robinson at Fulham in England’s second tier.
Holdovers included goalkeeper Andre Blake, right back Alvas Powell, defenders Damion Lowe and Adrian Mariappa, left back Kemar Lawrence, midfielders Devon Williams and Tyreek Magee, and forward Shamar Nicholson.
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