Takeaways from Americans' draw against Jamaica

It ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw, with Jamaica scoring first before FC Cincinnati's Brandon Vazquez leveled things in his first official game for the Americans.

"It means everything," Vazquez said per The Guardian afterward. "To be able to score a goal in my cap tie [the game that confirms him as a lifelong USA player] is amazing."

Vazquez's contribution is important for American fans: the young forward was eligible to play for Mexico, too. By taking the field for the U.S. in an official match, Vazquez is now a confirmed U.S. athlete for life.

If a 1-1 draw with Jamaica seems underwhelming for a team that just won the Nations League trophy, you're onto something. The American team looked quite different from the one that won the Nations League a few weeks ago. All but five of the 23-man squad have changed, with the U.S.Soccer Federation using the Gold Cup to rest its traditional stars and give experience to its younger prospects.

There was no rest, however, for goalkeeper Matt Turner, who turned 29 on Saturday. After a quiet season as a backup to Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal, Turner was loath to turn down any opportunities to play. "Turner came to us and said he wanted to play in both tournaments," interim coach B.J. Callaghan said. "I always say big players make big plays."

Turner wound up being voted the Americans' Man of the Match after saving a penalty in the first half to keep his team's hopes alive.

With Sunday's result against Jamaica, the U.S. continues its Gold Cup hot streak. In 32 iterations of the tournament, the USMNT has never lost its opening game.

The team will hope to keep that positivity flowing in Thursday's match against St. Kitts and Nevis at CITY PARK in St. Louis. St. Kitts lost its opening match 3-0 to the Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago.