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Streaking U.S. aims to end Jamaica's 50-game run at 'The Office'
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jamaica is not exactly a friendly tourist destination for the U.S. soccer team. When the Americans arrive at National Stadium in Kingston for Saturday's World Cup qualifier, they expect to be greeted with a hostile crowd, plus heat, humidity, wind and a bumpy field. "I never played on a field that bad since I was 12," John Harkes said four years ago after the Americans and Jamaicans played a qualifier in the same stadium. Jamaica has a seven-year, 50-game unbeaten streak at National Stadium, nicknamed "The Office," a run that includes 44 games against national-team opponents. Its last loss was 3-0 to the United States in an exhibition game on Nov. 22, 1994. "The field is entirely covered by grass this time around. I don't think it's the same field our team experienced in '97," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said Thursday as the Americans prepared in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "It's not the greatest field, but the field is adequate." While the Americans are 1-0-3 in qualifiers against Jamaica, both games at Kingston -- the first was in 1988 -- wound up scoreless. The Reggae Boyz, who made their first World Cup appearance in 1998, beat Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 and tied Honduras 1-1 in their two previous home qualifiers this year. "The atmosphere on Saturday should be tremendous," Arena said. "It's obviously going to be a sold-out stadium. We expect a bright, yellow crowd in the stands and a very enthusiastic following. Jamaica has stated publicly they need to win, and they're going for three points. They have a lot of pressure on them." The United States (3-0) is trying for its first five-game winning streak in World Cup qualifying. It appears to be in good shape to get one of the three berths from the North and South American and Caribbean region. Jamaica is tied with Mexico and Costa Rica at 1-1-1 in the regional finals, but is fourth on goal difference. "The weather is going to be tough, but it is going to be five times worse for the opponents," Jamaica coach Clovis de Oliveira said Wednesday. The Americans lost their best player of late, Clint Mathis, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last week. Josh Wolff is out with a broken left foot and Eddie Lewis could be sidelined by a sprained right knee. But forwards Brian McBride and Joe-Max Moore, the starting duo when the year began, are back after missing the last two qualifiers. McBride sprained his right knee against Mexico and Moore tore a left calf muscle. "I feel great," McBride said. "My knee has healed completely. I've been anxious to get back with the team." Moore failed to score in 25 games this season with Everton in England after getting eight in 18 games the previous season, his first with the Premier League club. "I don't have any injuries, so to speak, at this point," Moore said. "Fitness-wise, I'm not quite 100 percent, but I feel great." McBride and Moore figure to start, with Ante Razov and Jovan Kirovski in reserve. "I feel I had the toughest year of my career," said Moore, who had just nine starts for Everton all season. "I had six or seven chances to score all year. There's a lot of excuses I could make, but I just didn't have a good year." It will be a big five-day stretch for the Americans. By winning at Jamaica and against Trinidad and Tobago next Wednesday at Foxboro, Mass., they could increase their total to 15 points, probably enough to ensure qualifying for their fourth straight World Cup. The short time off between qualifiers is unusual, making conditioning, injuries and ejections even bigger factors than usual. "I don't think it's a problem because it's the same for all teams," Arena said. "We have a large roster. We're prepared to deal with any injuries or suspensions."
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