Experimental U.S. squad opens Gold Cup defense with draw vs. Jamaica

Brandon Vazquez scored in the 88th minute after coming on as a substitute for the United States in a 1-1 draw with Jamaica on Saturday night in Chicago. (Photo by Kamil Krazczynski/AFP/Getty Images) (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty Images)Comment on this storyLess than a week after the U.S. men’s national soccer team coasted to the Concacaf Nations League crown, an experimental American squad learned that defending its second regional title would not come so easily.

Fielding a largely second-string roster for the Gold Cup, North America’s long-running biennial championship, the United States needed a late equalizer from substitute Brandon Vazquez to open the tournament with 1-1 draw against…