Sergiño Dest's First USMNT Goal Was an Absolute Stunner

The Barcelona wingback gave the USA the lead vs. Jamaica in sensational fashion.

Sergiño Dest entered U.S. men's national team camp after a two-goal performance with Barcelona, and he brought that confidence with him to Austria.

Dest opened his U.S. account with a long-range stunner vs. Jamaica on Thursday to give the U.S. a 1–0 lead vs. its Concacaf foe. Dest had already displayed some dazzling footwork in the match before taking a pass just over the midfield line, slicing through the Jamaica midfield and curling a right-footed shot from 25 yards inside the far post.

GOLAZO USA! Sergiño Dest scores an absolute stunner to give the #USMNT the lead vs. Jamaica. His first with the USA

(via @TUDNUSA) pic.twitter.com/LGwMd0YsPg

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) March 25, 2021

In halftime comments to ESPN, U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter said that Dest had called his shot, telling the manager prior to the game that he'd score a goal.

Dest had minutes earlier sparked a scoring opportunity for the U.S., maneuvering and weaving his way forward before playing Christian Pulisic into space for the Chelsea forward to try to find Josh Sargent in the Jamaica box.

Señoras y señores, con ustedes, el crack del Barcelona...

¡Sergiño Dest! 😎

🇺🇸 0-0 🇯🇲#Jamaica | #TeamUSA | #AmistososTUDN

🔴 ¡En vivo!
📺 TUDN
📱 Síguelo aquí 👉 https://t.co/xOa7zok8A8 pic.twitter.com/wrr9jgY2Aa

— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) March 25, 2021

Dest has three goals in all competitions since joining Barcelona from Ajax over the summer, with the first coming in the UEFA Champions League in November before last weekend's double vs. Real Sociedad.

Dest, who has been playing mostly on the right at Barcelona, get the nod at left back vs. Jamaica, with Reggie Cannon starting on the opposite side of the U.S. defense. Dest came off in the 68th minute, replaced by Fulham's Antonee Robinson.

The U.S. doubled its lead in the second half through another substitute, halftime addition Brenden Aaronson, who came on for Pulisic and was the beneficiary of Sargent's tremendous hold-up work and pass through the box before redirecting home to make it 2–0.

Brendan Aaronson comes off the bench and delivers immediately. 2-0 #USMNT!

(via @TUDNUSA) pic.twitter.com/UwmQc9IjTb

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) March 25, 2021

Jamaica managed to pull one back on the counterattack, with Jamal Lowe beating goalkeeper and match day captain Zack Steffen with a deft chip from the right to make it 2–1 in the 70th minute.

¡Goooooooool de Jamaica! 🔥⚽

Lowe firma una gran jugada de los jamaiquinos y se ponen a uno del empate. 😎

🇺🇸 2-1 🇯🇲#Jamaica | #TeamUSA | #AmistososTUDN

🔴 ¡En vivo!
📺 TUDN
📱 Síguelo aquí 👉 https://t.co/xOa7zo2xIA pic.twitter.com/5mcyGPLWrJ

— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) March 25, 2021

The two-goal lead was restored 13 minutes later, though, as Sebastian Lletget hit a first-time finish off a pass from Nicholas Gioacchini to make it 3–1.

GOAL USA! Sebastian Lletget's first-time finish restores the #USMNT's two-goal lead

(via @TUDNUSA) pic.twitter.com/qRfqa5jG7E

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) March 25, 2021

Lletget added a second, and the USA's fourth, in the 90th minute, finishing from a similar spot in a similar manner, but pulling it to the other side of the net.

GOAL #USMNT! Lletget gets his second with a finish that looked awfully like his first. 4-1!

(via @TUDNUSA) pic.twitter.com/lswKgo0lMk

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) March 25, 2021

The U.S. will play Northern Ireland on Sunday to close its camp prior to a May 30 friendly vs. Switzerland that precedes the Concacaf Nations League semifinals.