Kansas City, Oct 12 (IANS/CMC) Jamaica’s dream of qualifying for next year’s football World Cup in Brazil ended with a 0-2 defeat against the US Friday night.
Second half goals from midfielder Graham Zusi and forward Jozy Altidore rocked Jamaica after both teams were tied nil-all after an evenly contested first half at Sporting Park.
Jamaica pressed the attack in the opening minutes, dominating possession and pestering goalkeeper Tim Howard.
But the Americans turned up the heat in the second half and finally broke through with 13 minutes left in the game.
Zusi, a halftime substitute for Landon Donovan, delighted his hometown fans, cutting a low shot into the lower left corner off an assist from Alejandro Bedoya.
Altidore sealed Jamaica’s fate with an 81st-minute goal, easily finishing a left-footed shot into a wide open net after Edgar Castillo calmly crossed the ball in from the left side with a rolling pass just above the six-yard box.
Jamaica’s best scoring threat actually came on the final shot of the game as Theo Robinson’s close-range blast from the right side was batted away.
It was another bitter defeat to the US for Jamaica, who lost 1-2 on June 7 in Kingston when Brad Evans scored in second-half stoppage time.
The defeat means that Jamaica have now been eliminated from the World Cup qualifying contention.
The Reggae Boyz entered the game against the US still mathematically in the running for a fourth-place playoff spot to face Oceania region winner New Zealand.
The US had already qualified for Brazil 2014, heading the CONCACAF table with 16 points while Jamaica sit at the bottom with a mere four points.
–IANS/CMC
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