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Close Canada/Jamaica Match Kicks Off Gold Cup
For most of the match, Jamaica and Canada were even, but a magnificent strike by Ali Gerba lifted Canada, much to the frustration of the Reggae Boyz.
Jul 4, 2009 1:05:41 AM
CARSON, Calif. - Throughout the first 74 minutes of the 2009 Gold Cup
opener between Canada and Jamaica, neither side could gain control of
the game.
The Canadians tested Jamaican goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts on several occasions while the Reggae Boyz kept Canadian 'keeper Greg Sutton on his toes as well.
It wasn't until the 75th minute that one team finally broke through. And it took a magnificent strike to do so. Ali Gerba smashed a side volley across the goal line for what proved to be the only goal Canada needed as Canada beat Jamaica 1-0 at Home Depot Center on Friday.
On the strength of solid goalkeeping and a tremendous finish then, Canada were able to claim victory.
"We had the intentions to get the three points and we got the three points," Canada forward Ali Gerba said. "We tried to keep the defense very tight and create space so we could keep it in front of us. We had a good (scoring opportunity) and I put the ball in."
Gerba was named Man of the Match but goalkeeper Greg Sutton also had a strong match. Sutton, who was let go by Toronto FC in early June, admitted he was lacking match fitness after his spell of inactivity. But Sutton came up big when Canada needed him the most as he came up with several saves on either side of halftime to preserve the clean sheet.
"I felt rusty... but I understand that that's part of the layoff that I've had," said Sutton, who played in just two games for Toronto FC this season. "It was a good game to get under my belt. But I was still able to help the team out and still able to get the victory."
Still, Canada manager Stephen Hart said Sutton's club situation had little bearing on the decision to start him.
"We knew Jamaica were very powerful in the air, very strong," Hart said. "In that situation we just thought Sutton would be best."
For their part, the Reggae Boyz felt the game got away from them of their own doing as they put themselves in a tough situation, both in the match and in the tournament in general.
"Tough start. You never want to start the tournament with a loss," Jamaican defender Tyrone Marshall said. "I thought we played well, just unfortunate not to put our chances away and it came back to bite us."
Marshall blamed their loss on the team's inability to beat Sutton.
"It's the nature of the game. If you don't put your chances away and give the other team the opportunity, they're going to put it in and they did and ended up beating us 1-0," Marshall said.
The opportunity Canada created was strong, but not exactly a clear-cut scoring chance. From far on the left flank, Michael Klukowski crossed the ball to the right side of the penalty area. Gerba timed the cross and latched onto it in mid-air, sending a powerful shot past a flat-footed Ricketts and into the inside of the net.
"The ball was going pretty fast," Gerba said. "I saw Mike on the wing. I just kept my eyes on the ball and I put it in the back of the net."
Hart said he thought the play was going to develop in a different manner.
"I actually saw Ali peeling away. I thought he was going to bring it down. I'm glad he didn't," Hart said. "It was a great, great finish. A nice play in general but a fantastic finish."
Luis Bueno, Goal.com
Visit Goal.com for more coverage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The Canadians tested Jamaican goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts on several occasions while the Reggae Boyz kept Canadian 'keeper Greg Sutton on his toes as well.
It wasn't until the 75th minute that one team finally broke through. And it took a magnificent strike to do so. Ali Gerba smashed a side volley across the goal line for what proved to be the only goal Canada needed as Canada beat Jamaica 1-0 at Home Depot Center on Friday.
On the strength of solid goalkeeping and a tremendous finish then, Canada were able to claim victory.
"We had the intentions to get the three points and we got the three points," Canada forward Ali Gerba said. "We tried to keep the defense very tight and create space so we could keep it in front of us. We had a good (scoring opportunity) and I put the ball in."
Gerba was named Man of the Match but goalkeeper Greg Sutton also had a strong match. Sutton, who was let go by Toronto FC in early June, admitted he was lacking match fitness after his spell of inactivity. But Sutton came up big when Canada needed him the most as he came up with several saves on either side of halftime to preserve the clean sheet.
"I felt rusty... but I understand that that's part of the layoff that I've had," said Sutton, who played in just two games for Toronto FC this season. "It was a good game to get under my belt. But I was still able to help the team out and still able to get the victory."
Still, Canada manager Stephen Hart said Sutton's club situation had little bearing on the decision to start him.
"We knew Jamaica were very powerful in the air, very strong," Hart said. "In that situation we just thought Sutton would be best."
For their part, the Reggae Boyz felt the game got away from them of their own doing as they put themselves in a tough situation, both in the match and in the tournament in general.
"Tough start. You never want to start the tournament with a loss," Jamaican defender Tyrone Marshall said. "I thought we played well, just unfortunate not to put our chances away and it came back to bite us."
Marshall blamed their loss on the team's inability to beat Sutton.
"It's the nature of the game. If you don't put your chances away and give the other team the opportunity, they're going to put it in and they did and ended up beating us 1-0," Marshall said.
The opportunity Canada created was strong, but not exactly a clear-cut scoring chance. From far on the left flank, Michael Klukowski crossed the ball to the right side of the penalty area. Gerba timed the cross and latched onto it in mid-air, sending a powerful shot past a flat-footed Ricketts and into the inside of the net.
"The ball was going pretty fast," Gerba said. "I saw Mike on the wing. I just kept my eyes on the ball and I put it in the back of the net."
Hart said he thought the play was going to develop in a different manner.
"I actually saw Ali peeling away. I thought he was going to bring it down. I'm glad he didn't," Hart said. "It was a great, great finish. A nice play in general but a fantastic finish."
Luis Bueno, Goal.com
Visit Goal.com for more coverage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
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