United States of America 1 - Jamaica 0; Guatemala 1 - Antigua and Barbuda 0

Antigua and Barbuda hosted the return match against Guatemala in North Sound.  Regular Antigua goalkeeper Molvin James was out for a red-card suspension.  Twenty minutes in, the crowd at North Sound witnessed the goal of the day in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Sadly for them, it was Carlos Ruiz of the Chapines who authored the strike.  A half-volley from twenty-five yards was struck purely by Ruiz and became the upper-niniest of upper-ninety goals.  Guatemala nearly made it two, but their effort was smacked off the near post straight back toward its origin.

Guatemala dealt well with the pressure of a tight match in the second forty-five.  Though their offense could not muster much against a resolute Antigua defense, the Chapines refused to bend on their own defenseive end.  Guatemala see the 1-0 win out and move into a tie for first place in Group One.

United States of America returned to their fortress in Columbus to take on group leaders Jamaica.  Jamaica goalkeeper Dwayne Miller was unbeatable in the first half.  Not even a deflection after having committed to a dive the opposite way could best him as he somehow stopped momentum and dove backwards to tip the ball off the post.  First-time United States starting midfielder Graham Zusi was the best field player in the first half, and he nearly scored on two occasions, once denied Miller.  Danny Williams hit a wicked bullet from over forty yards that beat Miller, but the intersection of the posts took the brunt of the blow and not the back of the net.  Jamaica were relieved to enter the locker room tied 0-0.

Ten minutes into the second period, the United States drew a free kick.  Herculez Gomez struck a decent ball over the wall, but Miller got both hands to it.  Still, the ball somehow got through Miller anyway, and the United States had a deserved 1-0 lead.  At this point, the level of energy dropped from the home side, giving Jamaica hope to snatch a draw.  A Luton Shelton shot in the final ten minutes was the first real Reggae Boyz attack, and it would be the last.  United States win 1-0 to move into a three-way tie for first place with two matchdays left to play.

USA 7 pts +2
Guatemala 7 pts +2
Jamaica 7 pts +1
Antigua 1 pts -5

Goals
Guatemala
Carlos Ruiz 20

United States
Herculez Gomez 55

Match Reports:
http://www.tropigol.com/2012/09/11/ruiz-gives-guatemala-1-0-victory-at-antigua/
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/09/11/usa-jamaica.ap/index.html#?sct=sc_t2_a3
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/avi_creditor/09/12/usa-jamaica-steve-cherundolo/index.html?sct=sc_t12_a0

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA_E5d4FBKc (Guatemala v. Antigua)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5CBZjcGpis (USA v. Jamaica)