HOUSTON, Texas (CMC) – Captain Rodolph Austin struck a late injury-time winner as Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz edged a stubborn Canada 1-0 to post their first win of the CONCACAF Gold Cup here Saturday night.With the game seemingly headed for another frustrating draw following their opening stalemate against Costa Rica, the former Leeds defender headed home in the second minute of stoppage time to hand Jamaica a precious three points and send them to the top of Group B.
In the feature game of the double-header at the BBVA Compass Stadium, El Salvador also produced a late stunner to grab a share of the points in a 1-1 draw with Costa Rica.
The Ticos led on 61 minutes through captain Bryan Ruiz’s first Gold Cup goal in ten years but substitute Dustin Corea struck deep in injury-time of four minutes added, to break Costa Rica’s hearts.
Jamaica now top the group with four points, with Costa Rica and El Salvador level on two points, and Canada bottom with a single point.
Playing in stifling heat that topped 34 degrees Celsius, Jamaica carved out chance after chance but found it nearly impossible to break down an obdurate Canada.
After taking a while to settle, the Reggae Boyz pushed forward repeatedly in search of the opening goal only to be denied by goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopolous, poor finishing or in one case the woodwork.
Simon Dawkins volleyed over from the edge of the box in the 16th minute after being teed up by Giles Barnes and Austin also fired wide from just out side the area ten minutes later.
The best chance of the half fell to Kemar Lawrence, however. In the 28th minute, the New York Red Bulls forward surged into the box on the left-hand side and fired off a shot which was partially blocked by Stamatopolous, with David Edgar clearing the ball off the line.
Canada had created a wonderful chance 16 minutes earlier when Tosaint Ricketts was released into the box with only goalkeeper Dwayne Miller to beat in the 12th minute. However, Miller rushed out to pull off a courageous block at point-blank range.
Barnes, the Houston Dynamo player who was appearing on his home turf, almost gave Jamaica the lead in the 60th minute when he slammed his free kick from just out the box against the crossbar with the keeper beaten.
Stamatopolous then pushed away Barnes’ goal-bound volley in the 72nd minute before second-half substitute Darren Mattocks poked an attempt agonisingly wide from close range with three minutes left in normal time, after being fed by Barnes.
With Jamaica seemingly out of options in stoppage, Garath McCleary curled in a pin-point cross into the box for Austin to stoop and head home.
In their final game in Toronto tomorrow, Jamaica take on El Salvador while Costa Rica challenge Canada in a must-win encounter.