Paul Clarke, Star Writer

Western Bureau:

Jamaica's faint chance of qualification to the Under-20 World Cup evaporated when they lost 2-0 to the United States in Group A of the CONCACAF Championship in Montego Bay last night.

It was a bitter end for what, according to head coach Theodore Whitmore, was a promising opportunity.

"I am very disappointed, as you know injuries is one of the major factors that affected our plans, not only in this game but almost from the start of the championship," Whitmore quipped.

"We knew we were up against a tough opponent. The US is always going to be tough opponents, plus our captain Junior Flemming missed this game because of cards. We just didn't create as much chances as we would have liked."

Needing to win to strengthen their cause, the Jamaicans were brought low by two penalty goals from Romain Gall.

The American striker netted the opening goal in the 34th minute, after Jamaican defender Allando Brown was issued a caution for pulling down Emerson Hyndman in the box. Gall was netting his fourth goal of the championship.

It was déjá vu for the Jamaicans in the second half, when goalkeeper Nicholas Nelson raced off his line to clear a ball, but made contact with forward Bradford Jamieson and luckily escaped being sent off by referee Marlon Mejia of El Salvador.

Nelson was shown the yellow card and Gall finished from the spot to make the score 2-0 in the 69th minute.

US coach Tab Ramos praised his team's effort, but said it would have been more impressive had they scored more goals in the match.

Victory for the US put them on seven points and third in the group, which is being led by Panama, who earlier defeated Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 for their 12th point from four wins. Guatemala are second on 10 points, with Trinidad on four. Jamaica have 1 point and Aruba are yet to claim a point.