Boyz ready to beat US jinx

Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sport

VIRGINIA, United States: SOMEHOW, it has never happened before. Today, Jamaica's senior football team is aiming to change the statistic of not registering a victory against the United States, when both countries clash in a CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final football match at the RFK Stadium in Washington DC, beginning at 3 p.m. (2 p.m. Jamaica time).

The contest is the first of a double-header, which sends the winners on to a semi-final showdown on Wednesday in Houston against the winners of the evening's closing game, between Group C winners Panama and Group A third-place team El Salvador, set to kick off at 6 p.m. (7 p.m. Jamaica time).

Though the history books do not favour the Jamaicans, they have been playing splendidly, racking up an unprecedented three preliminary stage wins in the Gold Cup, to top Group B with maximum nine points, and they are optimistic they can beat the United States now.

"We're not really focusing on the issue," head coach, Theodore Whitmore, admitted about their infamous record of never scoring a win against the United States. "We know we've never beaten the US team. We're working hard on it and hopefully Sunday can be a first because we have been playing well.

"Results have been going our way so we don't see why on Sunday with a good performance we can't pull off a victory against this US team," Whitmore added.

Jamaica's wins have come against Grenada (4-0), Guatemala (2-0) and Honduras (1-0), respectively with the coach making six changes to the starting 11 in their last game after they had secured a spot in the last eight.

Whitmore admitted that with the exception of central defender Dicoy Williams, who was sent home due to a knee injury he picked up early in the Guatemala game, the Reggae Boyz will line-up their original starting team.

Adrian Reid, who slotted in perfectly against Guatemala and Honduras, will continue holding that role from central defence, with captain and sweeper Shavar Thomas and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts set to rejoin Jermaine Taylor at the back.

Jamaica and the US have met on 17 occasions (10 friendlies), with the Americans winning nine. Only seven of the contests have come in competitions, with the Reggae Boyz falling thrice in World Cup qualifying and twice in their Gold Cup meetings.

close wins

Virtually all the games have been close, generally decided by the odd goal; with even a bit of controversy at times, like the last occasions Jamaica and the United States met here in the US capital in a World Cup qualifier that ended 1-1 at the RFK Stadium, in France '98 World Cup qualifying.

Then, Ian Goodison was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box, which presented the penalty that the United States scored. Video replays showed the ball hit Goodison's hand outside the box.

Jamaica's goal was netted by Deon Burton, who was fresh into the Jamaica team and hitting a purple patch.This time, the Jamaican flourishing on the purple patch is wide defensive midfielder Demar Phillips, whose high impact overlapping play and accurate finishing have seen him bury three of their seven goals.

Strikers Ryan Johnson and Luton Shelton have also found themselves in the scoring mix, while Dane Richards has been fairly productive, laying off two assists.

Apart from the finishing - a most important component - the confident and spirited Jamaicans have been patient and precise with their passing, while wearing down their opponents as they remain efficient, impressive and exciting in their play.

The Reggae Boys are expected to mix those qualities with their flair, speed and sound technical

and tactical plays, to test an American team that has generally relied on its strength and discipline to maintain their dominance on the statistical tables.

However, Whitmore has added much more tactical discipline to his team's play, a fact reflected in their defensive strength and having not conceded a goal.

Even with that, there is a recognition among the Americans - if only on the basis of their shortcomings - that they will need to do more against a Jamaica team that is not only earning positive results but playing impressively.

"I think our shape needs to get better and improve as the tournament goes on," US captain Carlos Bocanegra admitted after their narrow win over Guadeloupe.

Besides the difficulties with finishing, the Americans, reflected by their loss to Panama and problems in blasting away Guadeloupe, are not quite in the groove at the moment with coach Bob Bradley shifting players around and two of their most senior and influential players, Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan, unavailable for practice yesterday as they attended family weddings on the other side of the country in Los Angeles.

While jetlag issues may open debate on the possibility that either player will not be able to deliver their best, Jamaica's captain, Shavar Thomas, who numbers among a host of professionals in their team that play against and alongside their US opponents day-in, day-out in Major League Soccer competition here, says their rivals cannot be underrated.

"They say sometimes when good teams are not playing well they still find a way to get results and they (US) have done that so far in terms of qualifying for the second phase, so I don't think that counts," Thomas said. "For Sunday we're focusing on us what our game plan is and just to execute that."

JAMAICA'S STARTING TEAM:

Donovan Ricketts (GK), Shavar Thomas (captain), Jermaine Taylor, Adrian Reid, Jason Morrison, Rodolph Austin, Demar Phillips, Eric Vernan, Luton Shelton, Dane Richards and Ryan Johnson.