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16/JUL/2005 -The lackluster match was a reflection of the large talent gap
between tournament teams, such as the United State and Jamaica, as well as the
mediocre sides fielded for the tourney's eighth edition, which is taking place
amid World Cup qualifiers.
Jamaica failed to generate much offensive pressure and, to add insult to injury,
failed to convert a penalty kick and had a free kick strike a goal post.
U.S. forward Josh Wolff deflected a DaMarcus Beasley shot from inside the box
in the 6th minute to put the U.S. up 1-0. The goal was Wolff's first of the
tournament.
Jamaica had a chance to tie the match just two minutes later on a penalty kick
but U.S. keeper Kasey Keller made a great save on midfielder Andrew Williams'
shot.
Beasley, who also had one assist in the match, received a perfect pass from
Landon Donovan deep in the box and squeezed a left-footed shot past Jamaican
keeper Donovan Ricketts to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead in the 42nd minute.
Jamaica's chances seemed to improve when Ben Olsen was ejected in the second
half after tackling Williams from behind at the top of the box. The ensuing
free kick, converted by defender Khari Stephenson, struck the left post just
beyond Keller's outstretched hands.
The sides were leveled in the 60th minute after Jamaican defender Jermaine
Taylor was ejected for a hard tackle on Beasley who was chasing a ball out of
bounds.
Beasley notched his second goal of the match in the 83rd minute to give the
U.S. a 3-0 lead, though Ricardo Fuller would keep the Jamaicans from getting
blanked with his score in the 88th minute.
In the semifinals the United States will face Honduras, which defeated Costa
Rica 3-2 in the first match of the day's doubleheader.
In other quarterfinals action, Mexico takes on Colombia Sunday in Houston's
Reliant Stadium. The already sub-par Mexican side will be without striker Jared
Borgetti, who received a red card in the last match against Jamaica.
South Africa will face Panama in the other quarterfinal match. Both the semifinals
and finals will take place at New Jersey's Giants Stadium on Thursday and Sunday
of next week.
Lineups:
3. United States: Kasey Keller; Greg Vanney, Jimmy Conrad, Oguchi Onyewu, Steve
Cherundolo (Ben Olsen, 25th min.); John O'Brien, Pablo Maestroeni, Steve Ralston
(Santino Quaranta, 84th min.); Damarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan and Josh Wolff
(Chris Armas, 80th min.).
1. Jamaica: Donovan Ricketts; Damion Stewart, Jermaine Taylor, Tyrone Sawyers
(Damani Ralph, 60th min.), Robert Scarlett; Andrew Williams, Tyrone Marshall,
Khari Stephenson, Jarmaine Hue (Garfield Reid, 78th min.); Ricardo Fuller and
Luton Shelton (Jermaine Johnson, 70th min.).
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