USA vs. Jamaica: Score, Analysis and Grades

In a shocking defeat that puts the team's World Cup hopes in jeopardy, the United States men's national team lost 2-1 to Jamaica in Kingston Friday night.

After a goal by Clint Dempsey in the first minute of action put the U.S. ahead 1-0 and silenced the Jamaican crowd, it seemed like the Yanks were carrying leftover momentum from their victory over Mexico at Estadio Azteca in August.

However, with Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley not in action, that initial goal was about the only form of attacking the United States could get together all night.

Spurred by a brilliant home crowd, the Jamaicans roared back. A goal by Rudolph Austin off a deflected free kick in the 22nd minute tied the contest up, and the shell-shocked U.S. squad was unable to recover.

A brilliant shot on another free kick by Luton Shelton in the 62nd minute gave the Jamaicans the lead, and they never looked back.

Going forward, this win puts Jamaica in the driver's seat in Group A of the third round of CONCACAF qualifying. It seems highly unlikely that Jamaica will lose to Antigua and Barbuda or Guatemala, so a draw in the country's upcoming rematch with the United States should lock up the group.

This loss puts the United States in grave danger. While the USMNT should also take care of Antigua and Barbuda and Guatemala, seeding will be everything once the U.S. advances to the fourth round.

Essentially, what happens Tuesday will likely determine whether either country has a shot at making it to Brazil in 2014.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the grades for key U.S. players from Friday's match.

Clint Dempsey, USA: B-

The midfielder's goal in the first minute was the only true semblance of offense the United States could muster on Friday, so Dempsey deserves credit for that.

Nevertheless, the rest of his match was spent playing the overly conservative style that caused the Yanks to lose. 

As one of the leaders for the USMNT, Dempsey should have done more to rally his troops.

Tim Howard, USA: B

No one could have expected the U.S. keeper to repeat his sensational performance against Mexico, and some will simply look at the score sheet and blame Howard for the loss.

However, that's simply not the case. Jamaica scored both of its goals on free kicks, one of which was deflected in the net by a teammate. And Shelton's goal? Quite frankly, it was marvelous. There was almost no chance that Howard could have stopped the ball from sailing out of his grasp.

Howard didn't win the game for his team like he did against Mexico, but he isn't the goat of this situation.

Jozy Altidore, USA: D

Like all of his fellow forwards, Altidore was quiet all night. The 22-year-old star seemed lackadaisical and failed to defend at the front, a position where the United States needed a ton of help. 

It didn't help that the midfielders struggled to pass him the ball throughout the match. Regardless, there was more than one reason he was among those subbed out late in the game. 

Jurgen Klinsmann, USA: F

After one of the biggest wins in the United States' history, Klinsmann's team came out flat and played without ambition throughout the match.

It seemed that either the U.S. took Jamaica lightly or the coach's game plan was so suffocatingly conservative that the team had no answer for the opposing aggression. 

Either way, the onus ends up on the U.S. coach more than anyone for this loss.