USA Vs. Jamaica: Herculez Gomez Wins It For USMNT

USA Vs. Jamaica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Final Score, Herculez Gomez Gives USMNT 1-0 Victory

In a game of three distinct segments, the United States got the result they needed in Columbus, even if they made their fans sweat through the end of the match. A dominant first half didn't produce any goals, but Herculez Gomez became his country's hero with a great free kick goal in the second half. The United States continued to play well immediately afterwards, but nearly threw the game away late.

The final 20 minutes were nervy ones for U.S. supporters, as Jurgen Klinsmann's substitutes failed to keep possession. Jamaica couldn't create clear chances, however, and the United States defense did their part to hold onto a 1-0 victory.

Klinsmann's men started strong in the opening minutes, but it took them until 20 minutes into the match to truly assert their dominance. Steve Cherundolo had a shot deflected, then barely saved onto the post by Dwayne Miller in the 20th minute. One minute later, Miller came up big again to deny Graham Zusi from close range.

Danny Williams struck the post in the 30th minute with a wicked long-range effort that beat Miller, but just missed sneaking inside the net by inches. At that point, it looked like luck just might not be on the side of the Americans. Miller was brilliant in the first half, while the USMNT hit the post three times.

In the 55th minute, Jamaica's luck run out and Miller finally made a mistake. Gomez placed a great direct free kick at the near post, but Miller did manage to get across and get his hands to it. Unfortunately, he couldn't keep the ball out and failed to make what was his easiest save of the night up to that point as the ball went between his hands and into the back of the net.

The next 15 minutes went well for the United States, but as Klinsmann made substitutions and players got tired, their play became sloppy. Brek Shea was the first substitute, entering the match for Jose Torres. Maurice Edu and Jozy Altidore also came in, replacing Zusi and Gomez. The latter two players looked a bit rusty and gave the ball away routinely, while Clint Dempsey looked absolutely gassed and also gave the ball away regularly.

Those questionable substitution choices and the Americans' fatigue led to a number of nervy moments at the end of the match, but Tim Howard and the American back four were up to the task, preventing Jamaica from turning any of the midfield's giveaways into scoring opportunities. For all the nervous moments for the USMNT at the end, Jamaica never really looked like scoring, and the United States held onto their 1-0 win comfortably.

You can find our previous coverage of the game in our USA vs. Jamaica StoryStream and you can get all of your U.S. soccer coverage at Stars and Stripes FC.

USA Vs. Jamaica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Hey There, Tim Howard

Tim Howard is still on the field. You might have been convinced otherwise since the United Stats has been so good that the goalkeeper hasn't been involved all match, but when the U.S. needed him he was there. A good shot by Rodolph Austin that appeared to take a bit of a deflection forced Howard into a fine save that reminded us that he is actually playing.

The U.S. has really run into some problems late in this match and it all started with some curious substitutions by Jurgen Klinsmann. Bringing Brek Shea on for Jose Francisco Torres stretched the field some, but really created a problem when Maurice Edu came on for Graham Zusi. That left the U.S. with few players to keep the ball, especially since Clint Dempsey is gassed, and it pushed Danny Williams wide right where he is not very good.

Everything was going great for the U.S. Could Klinsmann ruin that now?

You can follow live coverage of the game in our USA vs. Jamaica StoryStream and you can get all of your U.S. soccer coverage at Stars and Stripes FC.

USA Vs. Jamaica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: It's Getting Chippy

The United States and Jamaica are starting to get into it a bit. There was some tension in the first half when the Americans took exception to some of Jamaica's late tackles, but now the fouls are coming in fast and furious.

Most of the late tackles are courtesy of the Reggae Boyz, who have been a step behind all match. Between that and the Americans being on the ball so much, late tackles are to be expected, but it's been a little much lately and the U.S. rightfully is upset. They are turning to the referee waiting for yellow cards that aren't coming and this one could have a real ugly moment soon.

As time ticks on and Jamaica gets mor desperate for the ball and a goal, this is only going to get worse. Here's to hoping the referee keeps control of the match.

You can follow live coverage of the game in our USA vs. Jamaica StoryStream and you can get all of your U.S. soccer coverage at Stars and Stripes FC.

USA Vs. Jamaica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Herculez Gomez Goal Puts USMNT In Front

The United States finally have the goal that they deserve. A free kick by Herculez Gomez beat Dwayne Miller and the U.S. has a 1-0 lead over Jamaica in the 55th minute.

The Americans drew a foul from 25 yards and it was straight on goal, giving the U.S. a great chance at goal. Most expected Jose Francisco Torres to take the kick, but instead it was Gomez, who curled it just inside the post. Miller actually got to the free kick and despite a handful of amazing saves in the first half, he couldn't keep this one out. It was a shot that Miller should have saved, but he didn't and while some might call the Americans lucky, their lead is certainly deserved.

You can follow live coverage of the game in our USA vs. Jamaica StoryStream and you can get all of your U.S. soccer coverage at Stars and Stripes FC.

USA Vs. Jamaica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Halftime Score 0-0, But USMNT Dominant

The United States have put in a dominant half against Jamaica, but they haven't found the net. For all of their possession and solid chances, it's still 0-0 after 45 minutes of play in Columbus.

From the outset, it was obvious that this game was not going to unfold the same as Friday's match in Kingston. The United States' introductions of Graham Zusi, Jose Torres and Danny Williams signaled a stronger commitment to holding possession in Jamaica's defensive third, and they did just that for most of the half.

Zusi got the Yanks off to a brilliant start with their first real opportunity of the match, a great long shot that hit the crossbar. It would be one of three United States shots in the first half to hit the woodwork.

Herculez Gomez, up top on his own with Jozy Altidore on the bench, looked lively throughout the half and had a great chance 12 minutes in. On a long ball over the top, he appeared to beat the defense and took a great first touch, but Nyron Nosworthy made a spectacular recovery to poke the ball away from him.

Around the 20th minute, the United States started dominating while simultaneously getting very unlucky on multiple occasions. Steve Cherundolo unloaded on a shot that took a deflection, creating a tough save for Dwayne Miller. He made the first of two brilliant saves in a two-minute period, barely tipping the ball onto the post. One minute later, he denied Zusi at the back post following a deflected shot by Fabian Johnson.

Danny Williams almost netted an absolute stunner in the 30th minute. During a very long spell of prolonged possession for the U.S., Jamaica gave him too much space on the ball and allowed him to step into a shot from 30 yards out. He beat Miller, but his shot struck the inside of the post and bounced clear.

It's been a great 45 minutes of football from the United States, but things just haven't bounced their way. If they continue to play the same way in the second half, it would be absolutely stunning if they weren't able to nick a goal. Jamaica aren't nearly as sharp on the counter as they were on Friday, nor are they as effective pressing in midfield. This is the United States' game to win.

You can follow live coverage of the game in our USA vs. Jamaica StoryStream and you can get all of your U.S. soccer coverage at Stars and Stripes FC.

USA Vs. Jamaica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Danny Williams Rattles The Post

The United States have to be wonder what they did to piss off the soccer gods. They are absolutely dominating Jamaica and have nothing to show for it because of some bad luck and amazing goalkeeping from Dwayne Miller. The latest example of this is Danny Williams hitting a blistering shot that finally beat Williams, except it hit the post.

Williams found space in the center of the pitch and stepped into it. With Jamaica failing to close him down, he was able to really get behind a shot and boy did he ever. He hit an absolute rocket and it looked like a sure goal, only it hit the inside of the post and somehow managed to stay out.

Williams' strike is the second U.S. shot to hit the bar after Graham Zusi's earlier. At some point this dominance has to show itself on the scoreboard. Luck has to turn their way. It's only fair.

USA Vs. Jamaica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Dwayne Miller Is A Wizard

Jamaican goalkeeper Dwayne Miller is single-handedly keeping his team level. The United States are completely outplaying Jamaica and should have at least one goal by now, if not two or three, but Miller has been incredible.

First, the U.S. used some width on the right via Steve Cherundolo again to push forward and almost got a goal from it. Cherundolo ripped a low cross into the middle that took a crazy deflection and looked like a sure goal, but Miller somehow reacted and managed to paw it away.

Not long after, the U.S. came in down the left and Fabian Johnson unleashed a shot. It was blocked across to the far post, where the Americans got another shot from in close. It should have been a goal, but Miller got all the way across to make another great save.

If the U.S. keeps playing like this they will get a goal. That is unless Miller continues to be a wizard.

USA Vs. Jamaica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Jermaine Jones Blows Chance In Front

The United States is still on the front foot and causing problems for Jamaica. The possession is there and they are getting width, which besides giving them good opportunities on crosses, is opening up space in the middle. Before long it should result in a goal. In fact, it already should have.

A free kick 30 yards from goal gave the U.S. a great opportunity at goal and surprisingly, Herculez Gomez took it. He took it for good reason, too. The forward hit an absolutely perfect in-swinging ball for the far post that Jermaine Jones had a run at, but Jones inexplicably pulled up a bit short and made a poor attempt at it.

it was a blown opportunity for the U.S. who really should have had a goal by now because Gomez's ball was absolutely incredible. If Jamaica manages some sort of counterattack for a goal, that miss will loom large.

USA Vs. Jamaica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Graham Zusi Hits The Bar

The United States is off to a flying start in this must-win match and are already showing the width that they lacked on Friday. And it's hat width that created the Americans' first great chance, a shot off of the bar by Graham Zusi.

The American attack started with Steve Cherundolo, who got froward from his right back position and stretched the Jamaican defense before cutting it back for Zusi. The midfielder then took a couple touches to settle before ripping a shot that glanced off the bar.

Already early on, the U.S. is showing some width. Zusi has also flashed his skills, which are usually best from a wider position that allows him to cut in, as he did there. From the start, it is clear that the Americans are attacking Jamaica differently than they did last week.

Meanwhile, before the match Frankie Hejduk did this. Frankie Hejduk is the best and if you hate him you hate America.

USA Vs. Jamaica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Lineups

There isn't much else to say for the United States besides that tonight's match versus Jamaica is a must win. The Reggae Boyz beat them in Jamaica and took away their margin for error. Now they are facing the possibility of not qualifying for the final round of World Cup qualifying, let alone the World Cup itself. That's right, the U.S. might be out of the 2014 World Cup in 2012.

The U.S. was overwhelmed in the midfield on Friday. Once the Jamaicans took away their short passes they were out of ideas and nobody in their three-man midfield was capable of pushing forward with any success. In response to that, Jurgen Klinsmann has opted for Graham Zusi and Jose Francisco Torres in the midfield this time around, giving theem more skill and more forward thinking midfielders.

United States: Howard; Cherundolo, Cameron, Bocanegra, Johnson; Jones, Williams; Zusi, Dempsey, Torres; Gomez.

Jamaica: Miller; Palmer, Nosworthy, Mariappa, Taylor; Watson, Austin, Morrison, Shelton; Johnson, Cummings

We'll have live coverage of the game in our USA vs. Jamaica StoryStream and you can get all of your U.S. soccer coverage at Stars and Stripes FC.

USA Vs. Jamaica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Predicting Jurgen Klinsmann's Lineup Is No Easy Task

After a somewhat surprising loss to Jamaica on Friday, the United States finds itself in what amounts to a must-win game at home on Tuesday. What makes it even more precarious is the rather unsettled nature of the lineup that Jurgen Klinsmann will be rolling out. The good folks at Stars and Stripes FC consider just five of the starting spots to be reasonably assured:

"Between the announced return of Carlos Bocanegra, the up in the air status of Steve Cherundolo, the fitness of Clint Dempsey and the poor play of just about everyone, it's not like we know what Klinsmann is going to do. He could have faith that the same XI that played poorly against Jamaica on Friday just needs a kick in the tail and another game together. He could make sweeping changes. Klinsmann hasn't been in this situation before, so we can't really predict what he's going to do."

That's quite a bit of uncertainty for a match with so much at stake. But that's the fun of World Cup qualifying, right?

We'll have live coverage of the game in our USA vs. Jamaica StoryStream. For more on the entire world of soccer, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter. Check out our video preview of the match below.

USA Vs. Jamaica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Can Clint Dempsey Play Another 90 Minutes?

Heading into last Friday's match in Kingston, many Americans were keeping their eyes on Clint Dempsey. The United States' best player had not played a competitive match since early June and as good as he may be, it is tough for anyone to be anywhere near their top form or fitness after such a long layoff. Some were wondering whether he was even fit enough to start.

Dempsey did start and 36 seconds into the match he showed why, scoring the quickest goal in U.S. qualifying history. But the rest of the match was not nearly as good for the American start.

While Dempsey continued to work hard and try to get involved, he was not at his best and in the second half looked gassed. By the end, he was just trying to drag his legs along until the final whistle, which is to be expected of a player who hadn't played in so long.

Now just four days later, the U.S. has to play again and this one is even more important than Friday's. This time it is a must-win and the Americans would like to have their best player out there, but can Dempsey go 90 minutes again?

It's unlikely that he can put in the same shift that he put in on Friday, when he couldn't really even make it 90 minutes. Now it is more a determination of whether he can play an hour and start or whether he has just 30 minutes in him and comes of the bench.

Maybe it was a mistake for Jurgen Klinsmann to play Dempsey for 90 minutes on Friday, but he did and there is no way back now. The U.S. has to win and they may have to do it without Dempsey. At this point, all that matters is the win and the U.S. will get no sympathy for who played, didn't play or who wasn't in form -- Dempsey included.

We'll have live coverage of the game in our USA vs. Jamaica StoryStream. For more on the United States, head over to U.S. soccer blog Stars and Stripes FC. For more on the entire world of soccer, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter. Check out our video preview of the match below.

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