Jamaica's Ryan Johnson kicks for the ball in front of United States' Carlos Bocanegra during the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final yesterday.

United States:

REGGAE BOYZ head coach Theodore Whitmore believes a botched opportunity inside the opening minutes may have made a difference in the outcome of their CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final against the United States, at Washington DC's RFK Stadium yesterday.

The unmarked players, Ryan Johnson and Luton Shelton - combined to squander a golden opportunity at goalmouth, as the Reggae Boyz went on to lose 2-0 and get knocked out of the tournament.

Jermaine Jones (49th) and Clint Dempsey (80th) netted second-half goals to ensure that the Americans, who played a sound tactical game, kept their unbeaten record against the Caribbean champions, before a full-house 45,423 crowd.

"I think that was very crucial,"he said of the miss. "I think that would have changed the complexion of the game. But as I said before, we can't keep getting chances and not score, especially against a team like the US.

"That would've made a lot of difference in the game this afternoon," Whitmore continued.

Dane Richards initiated the play at the fourth minute, dribbling down the right flank, before playing a pass inside to Rodolph Austin, on a wide angle at the top of the penalty box.

Austin hit the ball one time low to the far post and Johnson met the ball inside the six-yard box, only to place it on to goalkeeper Tim Howard's body.

With Howard floored, the rebound rolled out nicely to Shelton, who astonishingly side-footed the ball over the empty goal from six yards, with not a single opponent within reach.

"The keeper made a good foot save, that's all," admitted Johnson of his miss, noting that even if Jamaica had scored then, anything could've happened "that's the game".

still proud

Reflecting on the game, Johnson said he was proud of their effort.

"We put the effort in and at the end of the day I''ve to be proud of my teammates," he said noting that the United States played a good game.

"They did good job, they made it difficult for us and their midfielders controlled the game," said Johnson. "We had to chase and by the time we won the ball it was hard for us to get it out and then keep the ball. The USA played well today."Whitmore noted his displeasure at their elimination, but also gave them kudos for their effort.

"I'm very disappointed," said Whitmore. "But I still have to give credit to the players, they went out there and they performed."

The Americans scored first when Jones volleyed a headed clearance from a corner kick powerfully along the ground, almost 25 yards from goal. The ball took a wicked deflection off Jamaican defender Jermaine Taylor's right boot and went the opposite side of goal-keeper Donovan Ricketts, who had dived and was in line to complete the save.

Dempsey's goal was easy. With the Jamaican defence caught short on numbers on a counter play, Juan Agudelo smartly dribbled into the box on the right flank and made a grounded square to Dempsey, who dummied Ricketts into a dive, before placing the ball into the empty goal.

Yesterday's win lifted the Americans' tally to 10 in the 18th contest between the nations' senior football teams, as the hosts took over the match from near the middle of the first half and dominated for the rest of the way.

Interestingly, they could have won by a much wider margin had goalkeeper Ricketts not been in brilliant form, as he made a number of key saves.

The Reggae Boyz ended the game with 10 players, following the ejection of Taylor at the 67th minute.

In similar fashion, Taylor had not finished the last Gold Cup match-up between the teams, when he was ejected almost on the stroke of half-time, when Jamaica went on to lose 3-1 at the same quarter-final stage in Foxboro Stadium, Massachusetts, in 2005.

Taylor, who represents Houston Dynamo in the USA's Major League Soccer (MLS), was red-carded after Jones broke for goal at the centre of the pitch then went down as the central defender, the last man, got into position and made a challenge.

TV replays suggested the Jamaican never touched his opponent.

Jamaica protect the goal as United States' Sacha Klestan makes a free kick during the second half of the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final football match yesterday at RFK Stadium in Washington. The United States won 2-0. - ap