By Alex Labidou, Goal.com
KINGSTON, Jamaica -- If Brad Evans hasn't locked down a place on the United States roster yet, he certainly became a fan favorite tonight.
Evans scored a 90th minute game-winner for the U.S. off of a corner to give the U.S. a tightly contested 2-1 away victory over Jamaica. Jozy Altidore also showed that his scoring drought is behind him as he scored the game's opening goal in the first half.
Despite a sizable gap in rankings between the two sides, the U.S. faced a difficult task up against a Jamaican side desperate to turn around its poor start to the hexagonal.
After seeing plenty of positives in the U.S.'s 4-3 win against Germany on Sunday, Jurgen Klinsmann decided to use the same starters from that match - the first time that he has ever repeated lineups in his two year tenure.
The U.S. seized momentum early as it opened the game with three shots in five minutes, but the game's opening goal didn't come until 30th minute. Graham Zusi beat his defender and lobbed a pinpoint cross to Altidore, who was charging toward goal in the six-yard box. The striker headed the ball past Donovan Ricketts to give the Stars and Stripes the opening score.
The moment appeared to spark Jamaica, as it aggressively attacked U.S.fullbacks DaMarcus Beasley and Evans - both natural midfielders converted to defensive roles on the U.S. roster.
Jamaica had plenty of chances in the first half as it took nine shots but eight of those shots were off target. Rodolph Austin and Jermaine Johnson were Jamaica's biggest threats in the match.
In the second half the U.S. continued to sit back as Jamaica pushed forward. In the 88th minute, it appeared as if Klinsmann's team was back to its old mistakes. Off of a foul, the Reggae Boyz got good position for a free kick and set up substitute Jermaine Beckford for an easy scoring chance. The crowd of just over 20,000 erupted as the team appeared to at least split points with the favored U.S. side. But the Stars and Stripes would respond almost immediately.
The U.S. pounced on Jamaica's overaggressive play and was able to set up a corner in the 90th minute off of a blocked scoring chance. A short corner was played to Michael Bradley. Bradley in turn found Evans, who turned and fired home the late winner.
Overall, the U.S. had the advantage offensively as it had a 56-44 edge in possession, but Jamaica had plenty of opportunities to score as it finished the game with 16 shots.
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