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50 in a row Jamaica looks to keep unbeaten streak vs. U.S.
KINGSTON (Reuters) -- Jamaica will attempt to keep their 50-match unbeaten run at home intact when they meet the U.S. in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday at the National Stadium. Jamaica, 4-1 winners in a friendly against Cuba on Sunday in Kingston, have not lost at home since a 3-0 defeat by the U.S. in a 1994 friendly. The Americans are top of the six-nation CONCACAF zone with nine points from three games. Costa Rica, Mexico and Jamaica are all level with four points, while Honduras and Trinidad & Tobago round out with group with two and one points respectively. "We're going for three points at home no matter who we face," said New England Revolution midfielder Andy Williams, who scored against Cuba. "We dropped points against Honduras in our last [qualification] game, so it's very important that we do well in this next one. "I'm not surprised by the success of the U.S. team," said Williams. "They have good players and a good coach and they always show up with the goods. They always seem to play us tough here, but I just hope their luck will run out this time." Jamaica coach Clovis de Oliveira believes the U.S. and Mexico are all-but-assured to advance to the finals. "Mexico and the U.S. are just about there [qualified]," de Oliveira said. "The other four of us are fighting for one spot. All the games ahead are difficult, so this [match against the U.S.] is the game of our lives. "The American team is much-improved, they have shaped up a great deal for this round and [U.S. coach] Bruce Arena has done a fantastic job with them."
CompatriotsThe Brazilian-born de Oliveira, who attended the Americans 0-0 draw with Ecuador in Columbus, Ohio, on June 7, succeeded a pair of compatriots, Sebastiao Lazaroni, who resigned last year, and Rene Simoes, who stepped down in February 2000 to become technical director at Brazilian club Flamengo. Simoes, who led Jamaica to their first ever World Cup finals in 1998, is currently Trinidad & Tobago's technical director. After failing to advance in the Copa Caribe last month, de Oliveira has recalled a number of England-based players including Frank Sinclair (Leicester City), Fitzroy Simpson (Walsall), Theodore Whitmore (Hull City) and former Port Vale striker Onandi Lowe, who now plays for Kansas City in Major League Soccer. Swansea forward Walter Boyd did not report to camp this week, so de Oliveira recalled Wolde Harris, who scored twice last weekend for club side New England in their 3-0 victory against Tampa Bay. "We're looking at our situation positively," said Miami Fusion defender Tyronne Marshall, who scored the winner in Jamaica's 1-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago in their opening qualifier. "We know that the match against the United States is a must win, then we feel we can get points at Costa Rica and Trinidad. The Jamaican Football Federation has made the commitment to win." Jamaica are away to Costa Rica on June 20.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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