Canada 2-1 Over Jamaica

[CDN4EVR]

Men's Youth (U-20) Team

Wednesday, July 21, 2004

O'Neill Nets Two For 2-1 Win Over Jamaica

Dale Mitchell

Canada’s Riley O’Neill netted a goal on both sides of the halftime interval to lead Canada’s U20’s past their Jamaican counterparts on Tuesday, July 20th at the Sunrise Hilton Sports Complex in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Jamaica pulled to within a goal in the latter stages of the second half but could not find an equalizer.

Canada quickly grabbed the lead in the 4th minute and never looked like surrendering the lead. Canadian goalkeeper Josh Wagenaar started the move by calmly knocking the ball wide to left back Patrick Kelly. Kelly then split two Jamaican’s with a ball to Franco Lalli in the centre of the field. Lalli quickly spun his marker and passed to O’Neill. O’Neill, who had just re-entered the field after a bone-shaking challenge in the opening seconds, collected the superbly weighted through ball and out-raced his defender to the Jamaican penalty area. The Campbell River native coolly slid his shot past the onrushing Jamaican keeper for the game’s opener.

The rest of half was a physical affair that saw both teams commit fully to every challenge. Unfortunately, Jaime Peters was the recipient of one of the more cynical challenges and limped off in the 20th minute. The Jamaican was booked for the offense.

In the 26th minute, Jamaica earned a free kick at the top of the Canadian area but the direct shot whistled low and well wide of Wagenaar’s right post. That was the closest the Jamaican’s would come in the opening half.

The second half started much like the first and after 55 minutes Canada quickly found itself with a two-goal cushion. Nikolas Ledgerwood, who had replaced Peters at the 20th minute mark, whipped in a teasing cross from the right touchline that only O’Neill could reach. O’Neill dove to meet Ledgerwood’s service and his glancing header skipped past a helpless Jamaican keeper.

The Jamaicans should have grabbed one back in the 74th minute when a Jamaican striker found himself in alone on Wagenaar. The Canadian keeper managed to block the Jamaican’s initial attempt but the ball fortuitously bounced back to the Jamaican’s feet. However, the Jamaican’s shot at the empty goal was far too casual and a recovering Graham Ramalho cleared the ball off the line. The Jamaican’s would come close again in the 80th minute when a low hard strike from the right-corner of the penalty area seemed destined for the left corner of the Canadian goal. But Wagenaar, at full-stretch, pushed the ball around the post for a corner.

In the 84th minute, the Jamaicans would finally and deservedly grab their first. Again, Wagenaar was faced with a near breakaway and bravely threw himself at the feet of the Jamaican attacker. Wagenaar saved the first shot but unlike the earlier chance, the Jamaican attacker made sure his shot crossed the line.

The goal seemed to alert the Canadians to the fact that they had suddenly allowed the Jamaican’s back into the match. Five minutes after Canada allowed the Jamaican’s to slice into its two-goal margin, second half substitutes Jeremy Shepherd and Carlos Rivas almost re-established the two goal lead. Some lovely inter-play between the two opened up the Jamaican defense but Rivas’ rasping shot from the top of the area was well-saved by the Jamaican keeper. The whistle for full-time blew shortly after the Canadian corner.

“The boys had to work very hard for a victory against a physical opponent tonight,” said Canadian coach Dale Mitchell soon after the game. “We have some work to do but tonight’s result is definitely a positive start to our trip.”

Canada U20s vs. Jamaica U20s

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 – International Friendly

Sunrise Hilton Sports Complex - Sunrise, Florida, USA

Canada 2(1)

Jamaica 1(0)

Goals: Canada –O’Neill (4, 54); Jamaica – unavailable (83)

Cautions : Jamaica – unavailable

CANADA – Josh Wagenaar; Graham Ramalho (82’ Pedro Czili); Simon Kassaye; Andrew Hainault; Patrick Kelly; Jaime Peters (20’ Nikolas Ledgerwood); Carlo Schuavioni (64’ Tomasz Charowski); Ryan Gyaki (captain); Dylan Hughes (60’ Marcel De Jong); Franco Lalli (55’ Jeremy Shepherd); Riley O’Neill (75’ Carlos Rivas); Head Coach – Dale Mitchell

Subs not used - Thomas Lindley

[Guest Jeffery S.]

Is that Pedro Czili really Petro Czoli? Maybe being from Cruz Azul they could call him Pedro, but messing up the last name?

Jarrek, didn't you say there were some legal probs with him playing for Canada?

Rivas the other Cruz Azul player also played.

[Jarrek]

It's Petro Czolij. It's kind of funny how the CSA can't get it's press releases straight.

The legal problems were him playing for the Cruz Azul team (I believe he is in one of their youth squads now).