It wasn't pretty but the United States men's national team got the job done winning the first leg of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal against Jamaica 1-0 on Thursday. Ricardo Pepi scored only five minutes into the match behind a Christian Pulisic assist and Matt Turner saved Demarai Gray's penalty in the 14th minute before the defense went to work limiting chances.

Ricardo Pepi put the U.S. men's soccer team in good position to advance to the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals.

It's getting real for Mauricio Pochettino and the United States men's national team as they'll play their first competitive games under their new manager during this international window with a trip to Jamaica on Thursday in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals.

The journey to next year's Concacaf Nations League Finals and Gold Cup begins Thursday night in Kingston, Jamaica, as the USMNT takes on the Reggae Boyz in the first leg of their two-game quarterfinal showdown.

The Americans are back in action on Thursday night with a tricky test at Jamaica, and here's what they must do to win

On a horribly maintained pitch in Kingston, the USMNT bagged an ugly 1-0 victory over Jamaica on Ricardo Pepi's early goal to establish a 1-0 lead in the first leg of their CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal matchup.