KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaica's soccer team left Monday for Columbus, Ohio, where it will play the United States in a crucial World Cup qualifying match.
The Reggae Boyz and the United States tied 1-1 in August at Kingston. A win against the Americans on Wednesday would ensure the Jamaicans the second spot from Group A in the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region. The United States already has clinched first place in the group.Jamaica has never beaten the United States (3-0-2), which has 11 points. Jamaica (1-1-3) is second with six points, one ahead of Panama (1-2-2) and two in front of El Salvador (1-3-1), which is at Panama in game to be played simultaneously.
The top three teams in the finals advance to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and the No. 4 meets a team from Asia for another berth.
Jamaica has scored only five goals, which has worried Jamaica coach Carl Brown.
"The forwards have not been doing as well as I would like," Brown said.
Brown has strengthened his attack by calling up forwards Jason Euell of English Premier League team Charlton Athletic and Khari Stephenson of Major League Soccer's Kansas City Wizards.
