BY RIDGE MAHONEY, senior editor In Kingston, Jamaica Four years ago, the U.S. national team started on the Hexagonal round to the 1998 World Cup by tying Jamaica 0-0 in Kingston. On Saturday, the U.S. and Jamaica met again at the National Stadium, where the Jamaicans had not lost in their last 50 games. Again, the nations drew, 0-0. The single point gained, after wins in its first three Hexagonal games, upped the U.S. point total to 10 and kept it three points ahead of Costa Rica, which stunned Mexico 2-1 in Azteca Stadium. Nothing is assured, but with a reasonable run of results the Americans could clinch a spot in the 2002 World Cup well before the ninth game of this Hexagonal is played in October. ôIt makes it a lot easier the situation we are in, getting a win on the road [in Honduras March 28] and winning two homes games,ö said midfielder Earnie Stewart, ô[Four] years ago we were struggling in the beginning. Chasing teams is a lot more difficult than leading them at this point.ö The U.S. players faced similar obstacles to what greeted them in 1997: a hot windy day, a stadium brimming with discordant noise, and a robust physical fleet of opponents. Jamaica does not so much try outplay teams as overpower them. But on a once barren surface, more or less covered with spongy Bermuda grass, the Americans stroked the ball about during several promising sequences to take Jamaica out of the game for lengthy stretches. ôWe could actually play on this field,ö said defender Jeff Agoos. ôWhen we played here four years ago, the field was so bumpy and the wind was so strong all you would do was hit high balls and hope.ö A U.S. team deprived of Clint Mathis (injury), Josh Wolff (injury) and Cobi Jones (suspension) still created enough chances to win the game while riding out periods of Jamaican pressure by resolute tracking and tackling. A strong central defensive corps of Carlos Llamosa and Agoos traded forearms and elbows with giant Jamaica striker Onandi Lowe. Plus, relentless work by Chris Armas, Claudio Reyna and Stewart defused much of JamaicaÆs midfield. Lowe took several shots but usually hit the ball wildly. The temperature rose above 90 degrees by midday and only occasionally did cloud-cover and breeze provide a relief. The U.S. players had little trouble with the humidity, having trained in Miami prior to the match, and finished strongly. The true measure of this game and its demands wonÆt be known until after the U.S. plays Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday in Foxboro, Mass. Facing another difficult, physical foe on four daysÆ rest will stretch this teamÆs depth and determination, yet it has not found in qualifying play this year a challenge it cannot handle.