Captain Carlos Bocanegra and defender Steve Cherundolo were back in the U.S. lineup for Tuesday night's World Cup qualifier against Jamaica, among five changes made by U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann following last week's 2-1 loss at the Reggae Boyz.
Bocanegra took over in central defense from Clarence Goodson, suspended because of yellow-card accumulation. Cherundolo, recovered from a strained right calf, replaced Michael Parkhurst at right back as the Americans tried to rejuvenate a stagnant attack from four nights earlier.
Klinsmann changed most of his midfield, keeping only Jermaine Jones and starting Danny Williams, Graham Zusi and Jose Torres in a more possession-oriented lineup in place of Kyle Beckerman and Maurice Edu. Clint Dempsey moved to forward and started alongside Herculez Gomez, with Jozy Altidore going to the bench.
The Americans were still without injured midfielders Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley.
Holdovers from the U.S. lineup in Kingston were goalkeeper Tim Howard, central defender Geoff Cameron and left back Fabian Johnson.
Joining Altidore, Beckerman and Edu on the bench were goalkeeper Brad Guzan; defenders Jonathan Spector and Parkhurst; midfielders Brek Shea and Joe Corona; and forward Terrence Boyd.
The match, before a raucous pro-American crowd at Crew Stadium, was played under ideal conditions with temperatures in the 70s and clear skies. The stadium was sold out, with fans receiving small U.S. flags in remembrance of 9-11.
Jamaica, ranked 27 places behind the U.S. at No. 60, made one change: Omar Cummings started in place of Kavin Bryan.
The Reggae Boyz' starting lineup included Dwayne Miller in goal; Adrian Mariappa, Nyron Nosworthy and Jermaine Taylor and Lovel Palmer on defense; Jason Morrison, Rodolph Austin, Cummings and Je-Vaughn Watson in midfield; and captain Luton Shelton and Ryan Johnson up front.
Jose Pineda of Honduras was the referee.
At the halfway point in the semifinal round of qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean, Jamaica (2-0-1) led with seven points, three ahead of the U.S. and Guatemala (each 1-1-1). Antigua and Barbuda (0-2-1) was last with one point going into its home match against Guatemala.
The top two nations advance to next year's regional finals. The U.S., trying for its seventh straight World Cup appearance, has remaining games at Antigua on Oct. 12 and against Guatemala four days later at Kansas City, Kan.
