KINGSTON, Jamaica — Rodolph Austin and Luton Shelton scored from free kicks as Jamaica beat the United States, 2-1, on Friday in a World Cup qualifier, giving the Reggae Boyz their first win over the Americans.

Clint Dempsey, playing his first competitive match in three months, put the U.S. ahead after just 35 seconds; the fastest American goal in a World Cup qualifier. But Jamaica, who had not won in 18 previous games against the U.S., scored in the 23rd and 62nd minutes.

Jamaica leads Group A with seven points, followed by the U.S. with four. Both have played three games. Guatemala, which has one point from its only game, was at home later Friday against Antigua and Barbuda, which has one point from two games.

The U.S. and Jamaica meet again on Tuesday at Columbus, Ohio. The top two teams from the group advance to next year's six-nation regional finals, which will produce three qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Missing injured Landon Donovan (hamstring) and Michael Bradley (thigh), the U.S. was dominated in the midfield and now has a record of four draws and a loss from five games at the Office, as Independence Park is known.

The U.S. went ahead when Maurice Edu played a through pass to Herculez Gomez, whose initial shot and follow-up were stopped by goalkeeper Dwayne Miller. The second shot rebounded to Dempsey, who scored from about 10 yards for his 28th international goal. He has scored in all three U.S. qualifiers this year.

Jamaica increasingly dominated the midfield, and the Reggae Boyz equalized after Kyle Beckerman's late tackle on Austin gave Jamaica a free kick about 28 yards out. Austin took the kick and his shot deflected off Beckerman's right foot on the defensive wall and past Howard.

Beckerman was replaced in the 58th minute by Danny Williams, who made his first competitive appearance for the U.S. Williams also had been eligible to play for Germany.

Dempsey nearly scored in the 44th minute. Michael Parkhurst crossed and Dempsey's sliding shot was stopped by Miller's sprawling save.

Jamaica took the lead after Austin was fouled by Edu. Shelton's free kick from about 25 yards went in just inside the post as Howard dived to his right. It extended Shelton's Jamaican tally to 34 international goals.

Right back Steve Cherundolo was left out because of a strained right calf, further depleting a the U.S. lineup. Captain Carlos Bocanegra, who transferred last week from fourth-tier Glasgow Rangers to Spanish second-tier club Racing Santander, was benched.

Dempsey's previous match was a World Cup qualifier at Guatemala on June 12. Dempsey had held the record for fastest U.S. goal in a qualifier when he scored 53 seconds in against Barbados in 2008. Dempsey moved from Fulham to Tottenham on Aug. 31 just before the transfer deadline closed and had missed the start of the English Premier League season while his club status was sorted out.

Associated Press

Source: www.latimes.com