Gomez helps lift USA to victory

Herculez Gomez curled in a shot from the right side in the 55th minute for the Americans

Herculez Gomez scored off a second half free kick as the US football team got their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign back on track with a 1-0 win over Jamaica.

Gomez curled in a shot from the right side in the 55th minute for the Americans, who avenged a loss to Jamaica last week and earned three points with Tuesday’s win in front of a crowd of 24,000 at the Columbus Crew Stadium.

The United States, Jamaica and Guatemala all have seven points atop Group A in the semi-final round of qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF).

The top two teams from each group advance to the final phase of qualifying next year.

Guatemala and the United States hold the edge over Jamaica with a superior goal differential.

In other matches Tuesday, Guatemala defeated Antigua and Barbuda 1-0, El Salvador edged Guyana 3-2 and Mexico beat Costa Rica 1-0.

The US team has two games left in this round as they host Antigua and Barbuda on October 12, then travel to Guatemala four days later.

Jamaica claimed its first-ever win against the United States on Friday with a 2-1 victory in Kingston.

The United States dominated the opening half Tuesday but failed to convert their chances as the game remained scoreless going into halftime.

Jamaican goalkeeper Dwayne Miller was superb throughout. In the 20th minute, he deflected a Steve Cherundolo cross off the goal post.

American Danny Williams also had an excellent scoring chance in the 30th minute, but his shot from 25 yards out hit the post.

The USA was awarded a free kick when Clint Dempsey was fouled just outside the penalty area by Jamaica’s Rodolph Austin.

Gomez took the kick, placing it just inside the post as Miller got a hand on it but not enough to bat it out.

©2011 AFP