Guatemala's Erwin Morales (left) fights for the ball with Jamaica's Je-Vaughn Watson during a 2014 World Cup qualifying match in Guatemala City last night. - AP

GORDON WILLIAMS, Star Writer

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala:

Jamaica last night squandered a golden opportunity to decide their own destiny in the Reggae Boyz' latest bid for a spot in the World Cup, going down 2-1 to Guatemala in a CONCACAF semi-final round football qualifier at the Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores here.

A goalkeeping blunder by Jamaica's Dwayne Miller late in the game gifted the home side a corner. Captain Carlos Ruiz rose high in the 85th minute and headed home the resulting kick to not only seal Guatemala's win, but place Jamaica firmly on the back foot in the race for a top two spot in Group A.

Ruiz's winner broke the deadlock generated by teammate Carlos Figueroa's 16th minute score, which shot Guatemala into the early lead. Jamaica equalised in the 61st minute from a Luton Shelton penalty.

Devastation

Jamaica's devastation was compounded by yesterday's other Group A game, which ended before the Boyz took the field. The United States survived a scare to clip Antigua and Barbuda (A&B) 2-1 with a goal in the 90th minute after the Caribbean team, playing at home but already out of contention, had rebounded from an early deficit and held the Americans at 1-1 since the 25th.

Last night's results moved the US to 10 points, good for a tie atop the group with Guatemala. Jamaica slipped to third, stranded on seven, with each team having one game to go.

To have any chance of advancing to the final round of six teams, from which three will automatically go to Brazil in 2014 and a fourth gets a chance to play-off for another spot, Jamaica must beat A&B at the National Stadium on Tuesday, the same day Guatemala play US away. The Boyz will also need the US or Guatemala to lose and then hope to make up a significant gap in goal difference.

A draw between US and Guatemala means Jamaica is out.

Last night, it appeared Jamaica didn't realise the seriousness of the task early enough.

Unfamiliarity

Adrian Mariappa, still struggling with a rib area injury suffered in practice earlier in the week, was replaced in central defence by Shavar Thomas, who was also entrusted with the captain's armband although seeing his first action of the 2014 qualifying campaign. Thomas was locked in partnership with Nyron Nosworthy in Jamaica's central defence. The unfamiliarity showed on a couple occasions, including Guatemala's early goal.

Midfield stalwart Rodolph Austin's sore left ankle also kept him out of the starting team. He was replaced by Taylor at central midfield. Forward Kavin Bryan was also injured this week and did not dress for the match.

Jamaica played the first half looking largely uninspired. The Boyz appeared to step up the pace early in the second half, however. They came close when Lovel Palmer's dangerous cross just eluded on-rushing Johnson.

The equaliser came shortly after when Richards was tripped inside the penalty area going for a pass from Johnson. Mexican referee Roberto Garcia Orozco had denied Jamaica a similar call in the first half when Johnson was bundled over in the box. Shelton rammed home the kick.