U.S. beats Jamaica 4-1 in exhibition in Austria

Sergiño Dest scored his first international goal with a spectacular 25-yard shot, Sebastian Lletget added a pair of second-half goals and the United States beat Jamaica 4-1 in an exhibition Thursday night at Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

Brenden Aaronson scored for the U.S. in the 53rd minute. Jamal Lowe got Jamaica’s goal in the 70th minute on a counterattack, chipping goalkeeper Zack Steffen after Andrew Gray slipped a pass by right back Reggie Cannon.

Christian Pulisic returned to the U.S. lineup for the first time since October 2019 and played the first half. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this was just the third match on a FIFA fixture date for the Americans since November 2019.

The 22nd-ranked Americans, preparing for a Nations League semifinal against Honduras in June and the start of World Cup qualifying in September, have seven wins and a draw in their last eight matches, and they’ve outscored opponents 23-3 in winning four straight friendlies.

They play Sunday at No. 45 Northern Ireland, which opened World Cup qualifying Thursday at Italy and figures to be cautious this weekend ahead of a qualifier against Bulgaria next Wednesday.

Dest received a pass from Yunus Musah on the left side just past midfield, took about a half-dozen touches as he advanced and cut around Adrian Mariappa and past Michael Hector, then beat diving goalkeeper goalkeeper Jeadine Whitewith inside the far post with a curling, right-footed shot from about 25 yards.