U.S. Steps Closer to Brazil Despite Momentary Stumble Streeter Lecka/Getty Images Marvin Elliot of Jamaica battling for a ball with Clint Dempsey. KINGSTON, Jamaica - The National Stadium here is nicknamed the Office, a place where the United States took care of business in stunning fashion on Friday night. After its lead disappeared in the 89th minute, right back Brad Evans, making only his second start at the position, scored two minutes into added time to give the United States a 2-1 win, its first victory at Jamaica in a World Cup qualifier. The Americans had taken a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute on a header by the suddenly awakened Jozy Altidore. But the lead was squandered as Jamaica scored on a free kick, a danger the Americans had been warned about all week. A header by Jermaine Beckford momentarily tied the score at 1-1. The Americans were shocked but not deflated. In the 92nd minute, a short corner was played to Evans by Michael Bradley. Evans appeared to shoot without looking, and his first international goal gave the United States a stirring victory. In Jurgen Klinsmann's 28th game as coach, he used a repeat starting lineup for the first time. The Americans sustained their attack and played with resilience, collecting their first qualifying victory here after going 0-1-4 in five previous matches. But the win came with costs. In the 56th minute, the midfielder Jermaine Jones fell in front of the American goal after receiving a blow to the head while defending a corner kick. He sustained a mild concussion, team officials said, and was replaced by Geoff Cameron. The victory put the United States (2-1-1) in an inviting position with two games remaining on its June qualifying schedule. It will face Panama, which played a scoreless tie with visiting Mexico, on Tuesday in Seattle and Honduras on June 18 in Sandy, Utah. The top three teams in the North American, Central America and Caribbean region will qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The fourth team in the group will face a home-and-away playoff with New Zealand. Last September, the Americans lost here, 2-1, in a low point in Klinsmann's tenure as coach. Clint Dempsey scored in the opening 36 seconds, but the Americans conceded two goals on free kicks as they struggled with Jamaica's speed and physicality. Bradley was injured and absent that day, and Dempsey lacked match fitness early in the English Premier League season. This time, the Americans were more fit and acclimated to the heat and humidity, having played friendlies against Belgium and Germany and arriving in Kingston three days before Friday's match. Jamaica was last in the qualifying group, having scored only one goal in its previous four matches. Its soccer federation called for an enthusiastic crowd to help lift the team's listing chances. Fans were credited for their fervent support when the Reggae Boyz qualified for their only World Cup, in 1998. Although music pulsated in the National Stadium before Friday's match, and miniature vuvuzelas blared, the arena was barely more than half full at kickoff. Enthusiasm was fervent but brittle. Already, this was becoming one of the worst sporting weeks in Jamaica in recent memory. On Tuesday, the Reggae Boyz lost, 1-0, to Mexico at the Office in a qualifying match. Then on Thursday, Usain Bolt, the Olympic sprint champion, lost a 100-meter race in Rome to Justin Gatlin of the United States. The United States believed the Reggae Boyz's desperation would make them vulnerable to early collapse. So the Americans applied vigorous pressure in the opening minutes. After a Graham Zusi cross in the second minute, the ball fell to Bradley, who ricocheted a shot off the left post. Later, the locals seemed to grow impatient with Jamaica's caution in a game in which only victory would suffice. After a dormant period, Jamaica made a brief, frenzied threat, energized by the frantic running of midfielder Jermaine Johnson. In the 17th minute, Johnson hit a wicked blast from the top of the box that United States goalkeeper Tim Howard parried, keeping the game scoreless. In the 30th minute, a settled American team finally took the lead. Zusi fired a perfect cross from the right wing. Unmarked, Altidore leapt and headed in the ball from six yards. After a long fallow period with the national team, Altidore has two goals and an assist in the past two games. The Americans were not out of trouble. As the first half wound down, Jamaica threatened again. In the 39th minute, midfielder Rodolph Austin slashed inside of Evans and pinged a shot off the right post. Jamaica's urgency increased with its World Cup chances slipping away. In the 54th minute, the Americans had a chance to increase their lead when a corner kick deflected to Altidore at the far post. He hooked the ball but did not get his full power behind the shot. In the 83rd minute, Altidore's night came to an end when he was replaced by Eddie Johnson. Altidore had done more than enough on a night that was encouraging and restorative for him and the United States.