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Rough day at the office Jamaica puts unbeaten streak on line vs. U.S. in qualifier
Updated: Friday June 15, 2001 10:36 PM
KINGSTON, Jamaica (Ticker) -- The U.S. men's soccer team will take on historically tough Jamaica Saturday on this sun-drenched island with an eye toward solidifying its grip on a place in the 2002 World Cup in Japan/Korea. The U.S., leading the group with the maximum nine points, needs two more wins to virtually assure a slot in next year's World Cup. Triniad and Tobago travels to Boston to face the U.S. next Wednesday. Jamaica (four points) has struggled, and badly needs a win here at home to get back on track. Clovis de Oliveira, Jamaica's coach, admits that he thinks the U.S. has already locked up a slot "We have four teams battling for that final place," he said. For this match, Jamaica will be stocked with a full complement of international talent; 15 players were brought in from overseas, the most called in under de Oliveira's tenure. While the U.S. is unbeaten in the Hexagonal heading into the match, Jamaica has history on its side. It has not lost in 50 games in Kingston, a remarkable home record. In fact, the last loss suffered was in 1994, to the U.S. in a 3-0 friendly. Ironically, one of the goals in that match was scored by Jovan Kirovski, who could start Saturday up top. "We'd always like to get three on the road," said U.S. coach Bruce Arena. "But you can't count on getting those three points. We know this is going to be a difficult game... But we have an experienced team and you can't argue with our success at this point. It's going to be interesting." "It would be nice to go down there and get a win," said captain Claudio Reyna. "But games on the road are difficult, so a draw for us would be good because we would be taking away home points from them. I think we would be happy with that." De Oliveira, on the other hand, would not be happy at all with one point. "I am telling my team that this [game against the U.S.] is the game of our lives," he said. "We need to win and we will be disappointed with a loss. One point is not good enough." In Jamaica's favor are the injuries that have plagued the American team. Clint Mathis and Josh Wolff -- originally called in to spell Joe Max Moore and Brian McBride, respectively -- were stellar in the early games, with both either scoring or setting up vital goals. Now, Mathis (ACL) and Wolff (foot fracture) are sidelined. Also injured is Eddie Lewis (knee sprain), though he was not expected to be a factor in this match. But depth is working in the Americans' favor. They have arguably the three best goalkeepers in CONCACAF -- Kasey Keller, who is expected to start, Brad Freidel and Tony Meola, who is sidelined with a stomach muscle pull -- and clearly the best defense in the region, with a wealth of players to pick from.
Defense has been key for the Americans, who have conceded but one goal in qualifying so far. Jamaica has given up five goals and scored only twice in three games. Yet Onandi Lowe, a forward with both the Kansas City Wizards and the Jamaican national team, says that his side is prepared to defend the home turf. "The atmosphere is very calm and quiet," Lowe said. "Everyone is focused. We know what we need to do." Jamaica relies on home advantageLowe hopes home advantage will prove crucial on Saturday. The Reggae Boyz, boasting their unbeaten run at the National Stadium they call "The Office," are searching for their first-ever win over the United States. "We are playing at home and we are going all out to win," Lowe said. Jamaica, the first ever English-Caribbean side to qualify for the World Cup finals in France in 1998, badly needs a win to enhance its qualifying hopes for the 2002 World Cup finals in Korea and Japan. The Americans are top of the six-nation group. Jamaica, Mexico and Costa Rica are all level with four points each. Lowe, who plays for the American champions in Kansas City, has led the Jamaica squad in the absence of regular captain Linval Dixon, sidelined with a thigh strain. "There's a lot of technical work and we are working on our match plan," Lowe added. Lowe is one of five Jamaica players -- Andy Williams, Tyrone Marshall, Wolde Harris and Christopher Dawes are the others -- playing in Major League Soccer, and he regards that as a plus for Jamaica. "It's great competing against some of these guys in Major League Soccer. "I can give my fellow players a few pointers and hopefully we can match them and come away with a win," Lowe said. Jamaica's next World Cup qualifier is away to Costa Rica on June 20.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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