Oppositionally, tactically, and geographically, Friday’s World Cup qualifier in Kingston is a tricky match for the U.S. men’s soccer team. Daryl Grove breaks down five reasons why that is.

BY Daryl Grove Posted

June 05, 2013

1:10 PM SHARE THIS STORY



men’s soccer team traveled to Kingston, Jamaica, last September, the Americans suffered a surprise 2-1 World Cup qualifying defeat—arguably the most disappointing result of the Jurgen Klinsmann era. Forewarned is forearmed, so with the U.S. once again facing the Reggae Boyz in Jamaica’s capital on Friday, here are the top five threats you need to be worried about.

5. Ryan Johnson

Johnson is the key to Jamaica’s counterattacking style, always showing for the ball, even if it means pulling wide or deep. The Portland Timbers striker’s borderline-hyperactive movement allows Jamaica to play one up top and pack the midfield and defense, because he’ll happily connect his teammates on the counter or find space behind defenders for himself. Gonzalez and Besler will have to concentrate and communicate to keep track, or Dempsey might regret giving Johnson the Deuce Face last time out.Movement

4. Independence Park

Jamaica’s home-field advantage is very real, with the Reggae Boyz’ 50-match unbeaten run in the late 1990s seeing the stadium nicknamed “The Office,” presumably because no one wants to go there. It’s going to be around 90 degrees and humid in Kingston on Friday. The pitch may fall somewhere short of perfect. And everybody should expect plenty of noisy horns from the partisan home crowd.Not-so-casual Friday at The Office.

3. Rodolph Austin’s right foot

The Leeds United midfielder is a triple threat. He brings serious muscle to Jamaica’s five-man midfield and won’t be happy until he’s hustled Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley off the ball a few times; he loves a quarterback-style long-range pass; and, most memorably, never saw a low right-footed shooting opportunity that he didn’t like. Just ask Kyle Beckerman and Tim Howard.Low, long-range shots.

2. Jurgen Klinsmann?

Herr Head Coach is riding high after that 4-3 win over the Fatherland on Sunday, but let’s hope he doesn’t get carried away in Kingston. A commitment to pressing and trying to thread passes through a penalty area full of determined Jamaicans didn’t work last September and won’t work this week. The U.S. could suffer if Klinsmann once again refuses to sacrifice aesthetics in order to smash and grab the points.Strategic Stubbornness

1. Garath McCleary

A recent addition to Jamaica’s attacking arsenal, the English-born McCleary is a fast, strong, 6-foot-tall winger who likes to dribble inside and shoot. He has done so successfully for Nottingham Forest and Reading, scoring three goals in the English Premier League last year. We’ve seen the U.S. defense struggle with this kind of direct dribbling threat in the last two games. And yes, that is how you spell his first name.Pace

Just missed out

Central defender Adrian Mariappa could be the rock on which U.S. attacks crash.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts will captain the team and can be relied on to pull out a few show-stopping saves.

Darron Mattocks likely won’t start and is yet to score for Jamaica, but the Vancouver striker looks primed to make his mark on the international scene and has already famously demonstrated his ridiculous hang-time with that 2012 goal against Toronto. Anything you'd like to add? The comments section is yours—have at it. Daryl Grove is co-host of the Total Soccer Show.