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VIDEO: By Michael Lewis
CONCACAF.com
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Striker Luke Shelton scored in the 62nd minute and Jamaica ended its 18-game winless streak against the United States with a 2-1 victory Friday night to take the group lead as the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying hit its midpoint.
The Jamaicans, who moved atop Group A with seven points, defeated the Americans for the first time since the two initally played in 1988.
It was the first time the United States had lost to a Caribbean team in a qualifier that mattered in more than 43 years -- since a 1-0 defeat to Haiti in Port-au-Prince on May 11, 1969. That loss closed out a qualifying campaign for the 1970 World Cup. The Americans lost 2-1 at Trinidad & Tobago in 2008, but it already had clinched a spot in the next round.
The Americans, which remained in second place with four points -- tied with Guatemala, will return home to face Jamaica again in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday.
The Americans played without the injured Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley, compromising its ability to control the midfield.
The Jamaicans capitalized with their speed, with Rodolph Austin twice drawing fouls on runs toward the top of the box that resulted in free kicks - and were converted into goals.
Without Donovan and Bradley, U.S. manager Juergen Klinsmann surprisingly started Clint Dempsey, who hasn't played a competitive match since June due to his dispute with Fulham before his transfer to English Premier League side Tottenham last week.
He also relegated regular captain Carlos Bocanegra, who had been playing in the fourth tier in Scotland before his transfer to Racing Santander last week, to the bench. To compensate, he paired Clarence Goodson and Geoff Cameron, heroes of the United States' 1-0 upset of Mexico in Mexico City last month, as center backs.
Klinsmann's strategy paid dividends within 35 seconds. Maurice Edu sent a ball down the right side of the penalty area to Herculez Gomez, who turned inside Adrian Mariappa and was able to get off two shots from close range. Goalkeeper Dwayne Miller parried the first, and defender Nyron Nosworthy blocked the second with his chest. But the ball bounded to Dempsey just outside the six, and he easily converted.
It was the third consecutive qualifier that Dempsey has scored, and he eclipsed a qualifying goal he scored 53 seconds into an 8-0 triumph over Barbados on June 15, 2008.
The Reggae Boyz, however, pushed forward quickly and equalized in the 24th minute. After a Kyle Beckerman giveaway, the Real Salt Lake midfielder fouled Austin 28 meters from goal. Austin's free kick then deflected off the inside of Beckerman's right foot in the wall, and it skipped past Tim Howard.
The goal appeared to energize the hosts, who were quicker to secondary balls, but neither side was able to generate many quality chances.
Jamaica scored the winner when Austin again dribbled toward the box. Instead of lunging, Beckerman forced him inside where Jermaine Jones tripped Austin, earning another free kick.
This time, Shelton curled a right-footed drive that sailed just over the wall and deflected in off the left post past a diving Howard.
