9/7 and 9/11: USA vs. Jamaica double-dip [R]

Good job by Daniel to get the scoop!

Brek Shea called into U.S. camp

Quote :

Today, word came out of Dallas that Brek Shea will get a call as well. Journalist Daniel Robertson was the first to report so, quoting FCD manager Schellas Hyndman following Friday’s practice.

Shea was never a slam dunk on this one since his call-up for the recent friendly against Mexico was more career therapy than performance-related reward. Still, Shea did help concoct the killer goal, so this hardly represents a reach, either.

U.S. Soccer spokesman Michael Kammarman said the 23-man roster will be released Sunday afternoon. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann is expected to be made available shortly thereafter to talk about his selections.

Jamaica soccer team hopes to continue country’s happy run

Quote :

Just as this island returned to the rhythms of everyday life, having delighted in political and Olympic celebration, the Reggae Boyz have rekindled the national spirit.

“No Way, USA!” is the slogan promoting the Jamaican soccer team’s World Cup qualifying match against the United States on Friday night at National Stadium, known as The Office.

Jamaican rematch is massive

Quote :

In the wake of that disappointing 2-1 loss to Jamaica Friday night, a very good friend of mine repeated the phrase, "If they win Tuesday, all will be fine" several times.

This might apply to the qualification process, since a victory in the Jamaica rematch would give both teams seven points and a share of first place in the group. The USA would then qualify with sufficient points in its last two games regardless of other results.

But it doesn't apply to the team itself, as seldom in the past two decades has an American team looked so confused and error-prone in a CONCACAF qualifier.

Some final thoughts on U.S. national team’s World Cup qualifying loss at Jamaica

Quote :

*I’ve slept on it and still don’t understand Juergen Klinsmann’s decision to not only start Kyle Beckerman, Maurice Edu and Jermaine Jones together, but expect the latter two to perform outside their comfort zones on the outer edges of a diamond midfield. Beckerman didn’t play well and was gone early in the second half, and Edu and Jones lacked impact. The Reggae Boyz are fast, and the American midfield couldn’t keep up.

*I wasn’t as troubled by the backline’s effort. The absence of Carlos Bocanegra was surprising. He is not injured. Rather, Klinsmann said afterward, “‎Carlos had some problems getting a rhythm now, the whole transfer thing,” Klinsi says. “Clarence [Goodson] has been very consistent in Europe.”

*Tuesday’s match at Columbus Crew Stadium is sold out: almost 24,000. Kickoff is after 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2, Galavision and ESPN3.com. (You already miss beIN Sport, don’t you?) The venue has been good to the USA in the past — particularly when Mexico comes to town. It’s not an absolute mandatory victory for the Americans, but seeing how Group A is unfolding, a loss or draw would increase the pressure in the October finales at Antigua & Barbuda and home against Guatemala in Kansas City, Kan.

“That” moment in U.S. Soccer qualifying

Quote :

So, yeah, that moment.

I’m really just having a little fun with the collective, reactionary voice in U.S. Soccer supporters. I know everyone is a little freaked out over Friday’s result in Jamaica, the 2-1 Kingston clubbing delivered to Jurgen Klinsmann’s men.

But here’s the reason everybody should calm down a little:

USA-Jamaica report card

Quote :

5 Tim Howard (Everton) 80/0
Beaten twice on free kicks, the first a low drive by Rodolph Austin that deflected off Beckerman and wrong-footed him and the second on a golazo from Luke Shelton. Was lucky not to be seriously hurt when he raced out the area and tangled with Shelton minutes before the go-ahead goal.

5 Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland/DEN) 14/0
Not as enterprising as Steve Cherundolo, whom he replaced in the starting lineup, but steady nonetheless.

5 Clarence Goodson (Brondby/DEN) 32/3
Started in place of longtime Carlos Bocanegra and had the job of bringing the ball out of the back but never looked entirely comfortable.

5 Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG) 7/0
In first start in a World Cup qualifier had a decent game. Made one great play to poke the ball away with Ryan Johnson lurking behind him.

4 Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim/GER)
The USA needed another attacking element but didn't get it from Johnson who has been so effective coming out of the back other times this year. Lacked of possession in midfield didn't help.

4 Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04/GER) 8/0
Played with his usual abandon, got cautioned and looked to be on the verge of blowing his top about the 80-minute mark. Injured himself on awkward challenge and was off the field on the restart that resulted in Rodolph Austin earning the free kick that Luton Shelton converted for the winning goal.

3 Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake) 23/1
Fouled Austin on play that led to free kick that deflected off his ankle for the first Jamaica. Couldn't keep up in midfield and was subbed out after only 57 minutes.

4 Maurice Edu (Stoke City/ENG) 39/1
Through ball sprung Gomez in the early seconds on play that Dempsey finished off for U.S. goal. But reckless challenge resulted in foul that led to free kick Shelton put away.

5 Clint Dempsey (Tottenham/ENG) 88/28
Give him credit: worked hard and played the entire 90 minutes despite his three-month layoff while his transfer from Fulham was negotiated. Goal after 38 seconds was the fastest ever by an American in World Cup qualifying.

4 Jozy Altidore (AZ/NED) 50/13
Hardly saw the ball during his 70 minutes on the field. Like Johnson, suffered because of the midfield's inability to maintain possession.

5 Herculez Gomez (Santos/MEX) 15/4
Great work earned first goal. Beat Adrian Mariappa in the goal area and had first shot with right foot deflected back to him by keeper Dwayne Miller. Then put second shot with left foot on target but it was blocked by Nyron Nosworthy.

4 Danny Williams (Hoffenheim/GER) 7/0
Provided more physical presence than Beckerman did after coming on.

4 Brek Shea (FC Dallas) 14/0
Brought some energy and provided a few bursts down left wing but could not sustain effort.

3 Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna/AUT) 6/0
Not a factor, like and for the same reasons as Altidore, the player he replaced.

U.S. road to World Cup that much tougher after loss to Jamaica

Quote :

International soccer is nothing if not fickle, so perhaps it should be no surprise that United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is again under close scrutiny just months after a pair of historic victories.

Friday's defeat to Jamaica in Kingston put Klinsmann's U.S. team in an uncomfortable spot in the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region, a stretch of the road to Brazil in 2014 that it was expected to cruise through with little more than a smug wave to weaker opposition.

Instead, Jamaica's 2-1 victory means that the previously unthinkable scenario of the USA missing out on the World Cup is, while still unlikely, no longer beyond the realm of possibility.

USA aims to rebound in House that Hunt Built

Quote :

The USA has a great track record in the Columbus stadium, including three consecutive qualifying wins over Mexico, starting with La Guerra Fria -- "The Cold War" -- and a 2-0 victory in February, 2001. Yet the record isn't perfect.

A rather ugly 0-0 tie with Costa Rica in 2000 was marred by some fans abusing the Costa Ricans and throwing objects onto the field. The final match of the semifinal round for 2006 qualification was played in Crew Stadium, and with the USA already qualified for the final round, it eliminated Jamaica from advancing to the Hexagonal with a 1-1 tie on a goal by Eddie Johnson.

Nearly eight years have elapsed since that game and great change has been wrought for Johnson and U.S. Soccer. So, too, for Jamaica, which on Tuesday has the opportunity for payback of a sort. By beating the USA for the first time, 2-1, in Kingston last Friday, it has taken over the group lead with seven points and dropped the Americans into a tie for second with Guatemala, which also has four points.