Players

GOALKEEPER: A

Dwayne Miller was kept busy by a blistering offensive show by the US, especially in the first half. He rose admirably to the challenge, making at least two saves of the highest quality. The best was when Miller hurled to his left to tip away a vicious deflected shot.

Miller couldn't get full contact on Herculez Gomez's free kick that resulted in the lone US score. He was lucky, too, as three shots bounced off the frame of his goal. But Miller kept Jamaica in the game and avoided conceding goals which could hurt Jamaica later.

MIDFIELD: D

Disappointing. After conquering the US Friday, this unit failed to repel the Americans' counter-punch. The US injected players with more creativity and speed. They delivered with clinical passing and shutdown marking. The Americans dominated ball possession.

The US won the physical battles in the heated encounter, giving Jamaica no chance to play. Rodolph Austin, last Friday's Man of the Match, was subdued for large patches. However, his powerful shot late, which forced Howard to make a critical save, was one of Jamaica's few bright moments.

Jason Morrison, usually a calming influence, also failed to take control. Je-Vaughn Watson too was hounded into mistakes and was eventually replaced. The key battle for the game was fought here. Jamaica lost it decisively.

DEFENCE: D

Central defenders Nyron Nosworthy and Adrian Mariappa were under constant siege, especially in the first half. So too wingbacks Jermaine Taylor and Lovel Palmer, bombarded early and often as the US launched waves of attacks through the flanks. But this unit battled hard, although sharp passing and movement from the US troubled them.

That the US aimed so many shots at Jamaica's goal - 10 overall - was not all the back fours fault. Blame falls on Jamaica's team effort, failing to match their opponents' intensity and tactical efficiency from the outset. The Americans' aggressiveness dominated the area in front of Jamaica's defence and exploited gaping holes created behind it.

Palmer was cautioned for a rash challenge on Jermaine Jones early in the first half and courted disaster when he tangled with and floored Gomez in the penalty box. Under constant pressure, neither he nor Taylor could get forward to effectively support Jamaica's attacks.

B

FORWARD

This unit offered little to threaten the US defence. Jamaica took no shots in the first half and three in the second, only one on goal.

Jamaica used the three-pronged design which proved successful in the first leg. But it was ineffective Tuesday. The pair slotted in the wide positions - mainly starters Omar Cummings and Luton Shelton - was kept busy tracking US attackers on defence, stifling their own ability to attack. Jamaica did this job well in Kingston, but not Tuesday night.

The passing service to this unit was almost non-existent and Cummings and Shelton - who were both substituted - plus central striker Ryan Johnson, found themselves isolated by a swarming US defence. Their few opportunities fizzled without much alarm to the Americans.

COACHING: C

Theodore Whitmore said Jamaica's exhausting travel schedule to Columbus took the sting out of the Boyz's intensity, especially early. The overwhelming crowd support for the US, on a special day for them, also inspired the Americans to play with passion. That's not Whitmore's fault.

But Jamaica were outplayed from the start. The team did not adjust well tactically on the run, especially to stop the US onslaught down the flanks. That's Whitmore's responsibility. To his credit, however, Jamaica did not quit and the Boyz's best moments came after the US scored.

Getting one win from back-to-back games against the US is a solid accomplishment by Whitmore. It keeps Jamaica in contention for one of two top spots in Group A and a chance to advance to the final round with a couple of matches left to play.