KANSAS CITY, Kansas — It was not easy to select a star player of Jamaica’s World Cup qualifying game against the USA at Sporting Park here on Friday night.

In a match that the Reggae Boyz lost 2-0, the losers gave a solid team effort, but a number of players and coach Winfried Schafer agreed that FC Dallas midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson was a notch above everybody else in his busy-as-a-bee rendition.

“Je-Vaughn Watson had a good game… he’s one of the best midfielders and I had to ask how I didn’t see him before,” said Schafer.

Watson was involved in most of Jamaica’s efforts to keep possession, plus he was involved in many of the offensive plays. He also combined particularly well with captain Rodolph Austin, Jobi McAnuff, Demar Phillips, debutant Deshorn Brown, Darren Mattocks and Ryan Johnson.

It is widely believed that when the former Sporting Central Academy player was substituted after being injured in the 73rd minute, Jamaica’s grasp on the game began to loosen.

Both USA goals were scored in the 77th and 80th minutes, shortly after Watson left the field of play, replaced by the UK-based dribbler Theo Robinson.

Meanwhile, Watson said the Boyz’s performance demonstrated that the quality exists within the ranks to take on a quality team like the USA and to compete so efficiently with them.

“I think our performance tonight was a good one up to, say, the 70th minute when we were all over them; we just didn’t have a goal to show. Playing against the United States tonight (Friday) importantly showed that we have what it takes to compete with the best,” he said.

His daring and commitment to teamwork are the reasons that Je-Vaughn Watson is the Jamaica Observer’s Stay Baller.