For U.S., Tie Is a Real Keeper

For most of Saturday afternoon, Donovan Ricketts and Kasey Keller were little more than spectators.

Certainly, their position in the nets as the respective goalkeepers of Jamaica and the United States gave them a unique perspective of the drama unfolding in front of them, but they weren’t really involved.

Not until late in the game, that is.

That’s when both men produced outstanding saves as the countries battled to a 0-0 tie in World Cup qualifying play on a searing afternoon at the stadium Jamaicans call “the office.”

It might be the office in name, but the air conditioning wasn’t working. The temperature was nearly 90 in the packed stands and considerably higher on the field.

But in the end honor was served.

The tie gave each team a point and kept both in the running for a place at next year’s World Cup, being jointly staged by South Korea and Japan.

The U.S. remains unbeaten and in first place in the six-nation group with a 3-0-1 record and 10 points, while Jamaica is 1-1-2 with five points. Of as much interest to the Reggae Boyz, however, was the fact that they extended their unbeaten streak at home to 51 games over more than six years.

But only because of Ricketts.

Late in the game, he produced two spectacular saves.

The first came when U.S. forward Ante Razov, formerly of UCLA and the Chicago Fire, leaped above the crowd and got his head to a cross from fellow substitute Jovan Kirovski, redirecting the ball with laser-like accuracy toward the upper right corner of the net.

Somehow, Ricketts managed to fling himself up and sideways and reach out to tip the ball over the crossbar at the last second.

Later, Ricketts had to go the other way, diving low to his right to deflect a Claudio Reyna free kick against the left post. The ball rebounded clear and U.S. defender David Regis, following up, sent his shot wide left as he clattered into Ricketts.

It was as close as the U.S. came to scoring.

At the other end, Keller’s heroics were not quite as dramatic, but he did enough to earn the U.S. its seventh shutout in its last eight qualifying matches, including four in the previous round.

First, he came out of his net to cut the angle and deny Jamaica’s Ricardo Fuller a chance to shoot after Fuller had intercepted a poor back pass by Regis.

Fuller was forced to pass the ball into the center instead, but by then the U.S. defense had rushed back to plug the gaps and Jamaica’s chance at a shot on an empty net went begging.

“Keller did a good job standing up their player and our guys did a good job recovering and filling in the slots in front of the goal to avoid a disaster there,” a relieved U.S. Coach Bruce Arena said.

Later, Keller threw himself full-length to his right to palm a shot by Fuller around the post.

Jamaica did put the ball past Keller twice, but both times Paraguayan referee Ubaldo Aquino already had whistled for offside.

The tie, in fact, was a fair result, even if the 30,000 or so yellow-clad Jamaican fans didn’t think so.

“We played a smart game in these conditions,” Reyna said. “We never really let them get real momentum and get the crowd into the game. That was important today. We were very tidy in the back and deserved at least a point, so we’re happy with that.

“They came out strong like we expected. Onandi Lowe was a handful for our defenders. He’s a big strong guy. He was dangerous. But we held their first storm and definitely are happy to get away from here with a point.”

Arena was too, but marginally less so.

“I’m not displeased with the performance,” he said. “I’m actually a little greedy. I would have liked three points and we were in a position there at the end to try to steal it.

“We didn’t do it, but we did what we’re supposed to do in the position we’re in. What we can’t do is give anybody we’re playing against three points. Obviously, we’re right on track toward qualifying.”

The heat and humidity, and a hard and bumpy field made it a difficult game for both teams.

“It was physical, but you expect that,” midfielder Chris Armas said. “There’s a lot on the line.”

And it was the men on the line--Ricketts and Keller--who saved the day for both teams.

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