Jamaica Vs. USA: Luton Shelton Wins It For Reggae Boyz

Jamaica Vs. USA, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Final Score, Reggae Boyz Win 2-1

When Clint Dempsey scored for the United States after 36 seconds on Friday night, they appeared to be well on their way to a simple victory Jamaica. Instead, what ensued over the next 89 minutes was one of the worst performances by the United States in recent memory, and almost certainly their worst performance under Jurgen Klinsmann. Two ill-advised tackles led to two free kick goals for Jamaica, and the Reggae Boyz walked away from the match as 2-1 winners.

Some fantastic work from Herculez Gomez set up the opening goal. His persistence on a run down the wing, then two shot attempts eventually led to the ball falling to Dempsey after a blocked shot. He made no mistake with his chance and gave the United States a shocking first minute lead.

A foul by Kyle Beckerman set up a free kick goal by Rodolph Austin in the 23rd minute, and Beckerman was complicit in the actual finish as well as giving away the free kick. He jumped on Austin's free kick, which turned out to be a poor decision. The ball went partially under him and took a deflection off his leg, fooling Tim Howard before it struck the net.

The United States looked lifeless for the rest of the first half and didn't look any better to start the second half. Jamaica looked like the much better side for the entirety of the final 45 minutes and continuously put pressure on the Yanks, who had no answer. When they did get time on the ball, they lacked ideas to get the ball into the final third.

Tim Howard experienced a bit of a scary moment in the second half when he collided by Luton Shelton. Thankfuklly, he was okay, but he spent a bit of time on the ground after this nasty clash.

Though Howard got up and recovered, he wouldn't be any help to the United States on Jamaica's winner, not that it was his fault. Maurice Edu gave Jamaica the free kick opportunity with a silly foul and Luton Shelton capitalized, hitting a stellar free kick past Howard that was practically unsaveable.

The United States brought Brek Shea and Terrence Boyd into the game in an attempt to find an equalizer, but never really came close. It was a poor performance throughout from Klinsmann's men, and Jamaica come away from the match as deserved winners.

You can find our previous coverage in our Jamaica vs. USA StoryStream. For more on the Yanks, head over to U.S. soccer blog Stars and Stripes FC. Check out their video preview of the match below.

Jamaica Vs. USA, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Luton Shelton's Goal Puts U.S. On Ropes

Many thought this could be the game that Jamaica finally beats the United States. Luton Shelton just brought that a little closer to reality. The Jamaican captain gave his team a 2-1 lead with a 62nd minute goal on a free kick from about 25 yards out.

It was the second goal Jamaica had scored on a free kick in the game. Unlike the first one, though, this was close to perfect as Shelton beat U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard in the upper corner with a ball that ricocheted in off the goal post. Shelton now has 35 international goals in just 68 matches.

Jamaica has had most of the run of play ever since the United States jumped out to a lead with a goal in the 1st minute.

A win by Jamaica would really force the United States into a virtual must-win situation on Tuesday when the two teams play again in Columbus, Ohio.

Jamaica Vs. USA, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Halftime Score 1-1, USMNT Struggling After Hot Start

The United States got off to a perfect start in Kingston and appeared to be on their way to a comfortable result, but they got a bit complacent mid-way through the first half. A disastrous minute for Kyle Beckerman led to a Jamaica equalizer, and the Reggae Boyz will be happy to take a 1-1 draw into halftime.

Clint Dempsey, who wasn't a lock to start due to his recent lack of game time, scored the opener after just 36 seconds of play. Herculez Gomez set up the chance with a fantastic run and a great bit of persistence. He had to fight off a defender to get a shot attempt in from a narrow angle, and he did well to force Dwayne Miller into a save. He pounced on the rebound and failed to score again, with Nyron Nosworthy getting in the way of the shot.

Unfortunately for Jamaica, the rebound fell into the path of Dempsey, who provided a composed finish to put the Americans ahead.

Jamaica didn't look like they had much fight in them for a long period of time after that goal, but were granted a gift in the 23rd minute when Beckerman committed a foul just outside the penalty area. Rodolph Austin stepped up to take the free kick and Beckerman committed his second mistake in the minute by jumping and allowing the ball to go under him. It took a deflection off his leg, which fooled Tim Howard and allowed the ball to find the net.

While Jamaica started the match flat, they were the better team in the latter half of the first 45 minutes. Both managers will have a lot of potential changes to consider in the locker room, and it wouldn't be stunning to see halftime subs.

You can follow our coverage in our Jamaica vs. USA StoryStream. For more on the Yanks, head over to U.S. soccer blog Stars and Stripes FC. Check out their video preview of the match below.

Jamaica Vs. USA, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Lineups

The United States and Jamaica are both aiming for "firsts" tonight. For the U.S., it is about trying to earn their very first win in Kingston, having drawn in their previous four trips to the Jamaican capital. For Jamaica, is it about trying to beat the Americans for the first time ever, having failed to win any of their 10 previous matches against the Americans.

This is also a match-up of the two top teams in Group A of the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. They both sit on four points, three points ahead of Guatemala and Antigua and Barbuda so there is a lot riding on this match as they jockey for the two spots in the final round of qualifying.

Both teams are dealing with injuries that have them at less than full strength, though. For the U.S., Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan are out, while Clint Dempsey is not in top form after going two and a half months without a competitive match. Then on the Jamaican side, they are dealing with the absences of Demar Phillips and Omar Cummings, while Jason Morrison will play, but is battling a knee injury.

Neither side is at full strength and both managers have to juggle their lineups and formations to deal with the missing players. While both teams are obviously gunning for a win, a draw would probably please both so they aren't getting too crazy with their lineups.

Jamaica (3-4-1-2): Miller; Mariappa, Nosworthy, Taylor; Palmer, Morrison, Austin, Bryan; Watson; Shelton, Johnson.

United States (4-4-2): Howard (c); Parkhurst, Goodson, Cameron, Johnson; Jones, Beckerman, Edu, Dempsey; Altidore, Gomez

We'll have live coverage in our Jamaica vs. USA StoryStream. For more on the Yanks, head over to U.S. soccer blog Stars and Stripes FC. Check out their video preview of the match below.

Jamaica Vs. USA, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: This Could Get Boring, And Boring Is Fine

The United States are without Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan, and there's a very good chance that Clint Dempsey will be unable to go 90 minutes. Jamaica did not call in Demar Phillips or Omar Cummings because of injuries, and both Ryan Johnson and Jason Morrison will probably attempt to play hurt. Neither team is at full strength, and both teams are without some of their most athletic players.

Jamaica will also like their chances of making the hexagonal as long as they do not drop all six points during the next two matches against the United States. The USA will like their chances of winning the group and coasting into the hex if they take four points out of the next two games.

Between the injuries and the situations that both teams are in, a draw is going to suit both the United States and Jamaica. Also, because of the players who are unavailable, neither team is as well-equipped to play quickly on the counter-attack as they normally do. Limited attacking personnel and limited incentive to attack for both sides is likely to produce a boring match.

If you're a fan of either team, you should be fine for that. A draw in Kingston is a decent result for both teams and puts both in a good position to make the net round of World Cup qualifying. If you're just a neutral hoping for a good game, my apologies. This is probably going to be the slowest USA - Jamaica matchup ever.

We'll have live coverage in our Jamaica vs. USA StoryStream. For more on the Yanks, head over to U.S. soccer blog Stars and Stripes FC. Check out their video preview of the match below.

Jamaica Vs. USA, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Making The Case For Using Herculez Gomez As a Winger

The question likely at the front of most USMNT fans going in to tonight's match against Jamaica is what adjustments will Jurgen Klinsmann make with his lineup. While there's an answer at most of the positions, the big blank spot is on the right side of the midfield. It's a position that Klinsmann has been struggling with since he took over the U.S. job, but tonight's match adds a new layer of issues.

With Landon Donovan unavailable, there's really no good option for the right side of the midfield. Not that Donovan is ideal for that spot, but he's better than some of the other choices out there. Of course, if you watch Santos Laguna, either in Liga MX or CONCACAF Champions League play, you might already have a potential solution in mind.

Our new U.S, soccer blog Stars and Stripes FC offers up a strong case that Herculez Gomez might be the most logical choice to try to solve this issue, especially since playing sans a true winger against Jamaica could be disastrous.

Gomez isn't a pure, out-and-out winger. He is still a forward who is probably best as a winger/forward in a 4-3-3, but even in the 4-2-3-1 that Klinsmann will likely turn to, he is the best that the U.S. has. He is disciplined enough to stay wide when asked to, as he has proven with Santos, and his crossing has improved. Gomez also give the U.S. another goal-scoring threat, having scored a handful of his 13 goals for Santos last year from wide positions. The threat of his cutting in at attacking the goal will make it easier for Cherundolo to get involved.

Will Klinsmann make this decision tonight against Jamaica? It's tough to say. We haven't seen him use Gomez in this fashion yet, but there's a first time for everything. How he deploys Gomez and how Klinsmann decides to handle the winger position in his formation could play a big role in tonight's result. Gomez might not be the perfect fit, but considering that option doesn't exist for the U.S. at the moment, he might very well be the best option.

We'll have live coverage in our Jamaica vs. USA StoryStream. For more on the Yanks, head over to U.S. soccer blog Stars and Stripes FC. Check out their video preview of the match below.

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