The U.S. Soccer team suffered a dent in their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in 2014, going down to Jamaica 2-1 in a World Cup qualifying game.
Goals from Rodolph Austin in the 24th minute and Luton Shelton just past the hour mark gave the Jamaicans their first ever victory against the U.S. in 19 games, after Clint Dempsey had seemingly put the favorites on their way to an easy win with the opener in the first minute in Kingston.
Without the important duo of Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan, the U.S. got off to the best possible striker when Tottenham Hotspur striker Dempsey gave the away side the lead within 36 seconds, an American qualifying record.
However goals from Austin and Shelton, both from setpieces, put paid to any hopes of a comfortable American win.
"Jamaica deserved that win," U.S. coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, said after the match. "They were hungrier and they were more determined, and that's how they came off the field as the winning team."
Klinsmann, however, refused to blame the defeat on the absence of Donovan and Bradley. "You can blame me, no problem," he said. "It wouldn't be the first time for that.
"The guys that stepped on the field are in charge of it. They are responsible to give everything they have. They're responsible for the outcome.
"I never complain about players that are not here, because there are reasons why they're not here. We take it the way it is. I think we have a good group here together that is able to beat Jamaica.
"We were just doing too many mistakes out there. Maybe we were leading too early in the game. But it is what it is."
"We got a good result in Mexico with some inexperienced guys and there was no reason we couldn't do that again tonight," U.S. and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard added. "Michael of course is a key guy for us and Landon, as you know, makes things happen, but I don't think those are excuses, I really don't.
"I just think we lacked concentration in some areas and we weren't nearly as resilient as we probably should have been."
Meanwhile, Mexico got their campaign off to a strong start with a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica. Carlos Salcido and Jesus Zavala netted the goals for the away side as Mexico picked up all three points.
