By Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter
GOLDEN STRIKE:Jamaican striker Onandi Lowe fires a freekick home to give Jamaica a consolation goal in a friendly international against the United States at the National Stadium yesterday. The United States won 2-1. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
JAMAICA LAUNCHED their campaign for the 2006 World Cup in much the same way they did for the 1998 one - with a loss to the United States at the National Stadium.
Goals in the 11th minute from Carlos Bocanegra and Christopher Klein two minutes later handed the United States a 2-1 win over Jamaica. Onandi Lowe hit back in the 52nd minute for the Boyz.
The Reggae Boyz looked like strangers in their own house as the US settled early. They took the lead when defender Bocanegra went up unchallenged to head a Nicholas Garcia corner past Aaron Lawrence.
That left the home team in a daze. Before the Jamaicans could come to their senses, they were dealt an even more savage blow.
Midfielder Klein took advantage of a lovely pass deep out of midfield which beat the entire defence. He broke right in the 18-yard box and pumped an unstoppable shot over the head of Lawrence, who could do nothing but retrieve the ball from the back of his net.
From then on the youthful Americans took total control of the half as they moved the ball around with confidence. Jamaica attacked only in spurts and looked more comfortable in their half of the field. The one exception was Ricardo Gardner who appeared fired up.
The Reggae Boyz were lucky not to find themselves 3-0 behind in the 29th minute when Steve Cherundolo overlapped down the right flank and saw his low cross deflected off defender Ian Goodison's shin and then strike the upright and rebound into play.
Jamaica were to have a few sniffs at goal towards the end of the half but they did not amount to much more.
The second half saw Jamaica switching to a 4-4-2 formation which pushed Tyrone Marshall into midfield. That, and a strong talking to at halftime, seemed to re-energise them.
Lowe showed his intentions early when two minutes into the half he took a pass with his back to goal, dribbled and then dragged a left-foot shot wide. Central defender Danny Califf paid close attention to Lowe, often fouling him.
That kind of action gave Jamaica their face-saving goal. After being taken down 25-yards from goal, the big man got up, brushed himself off and fired a cannon ball past Tim Howard in the US goal. It was a world-class strike.
The almost capacity crowd, which had been quietened by the US's double blow came to life. With yellow thunder stix they 'made noise for the Boyz'.
Another goal would not come despite the introduction of a number of substitutes. Jermaine Johnson showed life but that too did not last.
Jamerican Jeff Cunningham, who was a second-half substitute for the US, came in for some rough treatment from Goodison and Tyrone Marshall after he entered the field to boos from some of the fans.
Technical director Carl Brown, who had expressed a desire to end Jamaica's winless streak against the United States at 12, felt that the US goals came against the run of play. "We were having the better of play when the two goals were scored," said Brown.
"The corner came across when they were not ready," he said of the first goal. "You do not do that at this level. The only person in the box was the American who scored."
The second goal according to Brown resulted from a soft play which the opponents had been using before its success.
For American coach Bruce Arena the second goal was a "great one".
The result itself was satisfying for him. "I think it was a good result. Good experience for the young players. It is a long process. To win is not the bottom line.
"This game looks a little like what a qualifying game looks like," he said.
