The U.S. National Team climbed back into first place in its World Cup qualifying group with last night’s bounceback 1-0 win over Jamaica.
After horrid midfield play, a lack of width and poor set piece defending doomed them to a 2-1 loss in Kingston just four days earlier – their first-ever loss to Jamaica in World Cup qualifying – the U.S. put on a solid showing before a sellout crowd of 23,881 at Columbus Crew Stadium on the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
They utterly dominated play in a scoreless first half, and striker Herculez Gomez finally broke the deadlock in the 55th minute off his own bending free kick. Now the U.S. and Guatemala are tied in points (7) and goal differential (plus-2) atop Group A, with identical 2-1-1 records. Jamaica (2-1-1) is one behind in goal differential (plus-1).
There are only two games left in the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying, with the U.S. playing at last-place Antigua & Barbuda at 7 p.m. on Oct. 12.