Canada Take Group Lead With Win Over El Salvador

Columbus, Ohio was home for the second round of matches in Group A Gold Cup play on Tuesday night. After snatching wins on matchday one from Costa Rica and Jamaica respectively, El Salvador and Canada squared off with the group lead on the line in the second match of the night.

In the end Canada was too strong, controlling long portions of the match and walking out 1-0 winners.

First Half:

The early going of the match passed without much in the way of goal mouth action. Canada seemed to be getting the better of the action with their possession play, but as always El Salvador showed the early signs of being dangerous on the counter.

Both sides did carve out chances in the first 20 minutes. The Salvadorians had a good look at goal from a set play in the 19^th, but the curling shot didn’t have the quite enough movement to dive under the bar. Canada’s Will Johnson did well to earn a shooting position in the 20^th, cutting past two defenders and firing a shot from an odd angle, but his hit was also high of the mark.

Canada looked likely to get on the board in the 29^th. Johnson did well to work the ball down the right and the ball eventually found the feet of Ali Gerba at the top of the six. The big striker tried to turn and hit with his left foot, but never got all the way around the ball and failed to trouble the ‘keeper at all.

Gerba would atone for the missed chance in the 32^nd. Again it was Johnson working down the right and whipping in a cross. El Salvador’s Manuel Salazar made a hash of the clearance and the ball fell kindly to Patrice Bernier at the top of the box. The midfielder in turn made a hash of his shot, pounding a left footed volley almost directly into the ground, but Gerba was on hand to put the finishing touches on it and give Canada a 1-0 lead.

Salvador Coreas had a nice chance to level the match in the 40^th when a ball squirted out of a group of players and fell nicely for him inside the box. The striker tried to take the shot on first time, failing to set his feet, and as a result the ball flew up and over the post, sending the match to the break with Canada still holding a one goal lead.

Second Half:

Canada came out strong to open the second frame and should’ve added to their lead three minutes in when a great bit of combination play left Bernier with a great look from just left of the penalty spot. The midfielder never got his body in the right shape to take on the hit and pushed his shot wide, but the Canadians were looking very much in control of proceedings.

Yet it was El Salvador who nearly leveled in the 55^th. A quick turn and strike from Coreas from 25 yards out nearly beat Canadian ‘keeper Greg Sutton who had to go full stretch to knock the dipping ball wide of his goal.

Canada went close again in the 69^th. A set play found Atiba Hutchinson alone at the back post. The midfielder slotted the ball back across the frame of goal where Gerba seemed to be in position to tap home the second, but the final touch never arrived and the lead would stay at one goal.

In the 72^nd Canada was again on the attack as Johnson broke down the right and found plenty of space to run free into the area. Johnson pushed his shot wide of the target, frustrating midfielder Julian De Guzman, who was well placed for a pass just in front of goal.

Canada kept the pressure high rather than sitting back on their lead and while El Salvador slowly churned out a bit more possession, the Central American squad did little to create any real chances on goal.

Canada would hold on and walk out 1-0 winner, securing a spot in the knockout rounds and putting El Salvador in need of a good result in their final match of the group stage.

Allen Ramsey, Goal.com

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