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The wait was worth it for Canada as Stephen Eustaquio scored late in the second half to give the men’s soccer team a 2-1 win over Jamaica on Saturday in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal match at Independence Park in Kingston.
Jonathan David scored the other goal for Canada who had not won in Jamaica in 35 years.
Shamar Nicholson tied the game for Jamaica in the 56th minute on a disputed goal.
Fullback Richie Laryea set up the winner, showing his speed with a nice run down the side. He passed the ball back into the box and Eustaquio made no mistake.
The second game in the two-match, aggregate series will be Tuesday at Toronto’s BMO Field.
The winner of the series moves on to the CONCACAF Nations League finals next March, as well as securing a ticket to Copa America as guest teams at the South American championship.
The game was originally scheduled for Friday night but was postponed until Saturday due to heavy rain. It was 28 C at kickoff at 10:30 a.m. local time with humidity around 78 per cent. The pitch appeared heavy and sticky, affecting the way the ball moved.
Forward Cyle Larin did the work on David’s goal in first-half extra time. Goaltender Milan Borjan sent a long ball into the Jamaican zone. Larin took the ball, made a pretty spin to get away from two defenders, then sent a pass across the front of the net that David tapped home for his 26th international goal.
Nicholson tied the game when he got behind a surprised Canadian defence on a quick pass from Daniel Johnson and beat Borjan. The offside flag went up but the goal was ruled good following video review.
Canadian players argued the whistle had not blown to start play but referee Mary Penso let the play stand.
WATCH | Canada tops Jamaica in CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal play:
Featured VideoAfter rain delayed the start of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal game on Friday, Stephen Eustáquio’s 2-1 goal held up giving Canada the win over Jamaica on Saturday.
Canada, ranked 45th in the world, pressed the No. 55 Reggae Boyz early in the match.
In the eighth minute, David snuck behind the Jamaican defence and fired a shot that goaltender Andre Blake stopped. Larin then had a good chance from distance late in the half, blasting a ball that a diving Blake got a hand on.
Jamaica’s Leon Bailey had two good scoring chances in the first half. In the 15th minute he fired a ball that just missed the far corner of the net. Later he hit the crossbar off a corner kick from Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
The Jamaican side suffered a blow when forward Michail Antonio, who plays for West Ham United, left the match early in the first half with an injury.
Canada’s record playing in Jamaica improved to 2-6-5.
Canada, Mexico, the U.S. and Costa Rica were given byes to the final eight of the Nations League competition, based on the March 2023 CONCACAF rankings.
Panama, Jamaica, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago advanced through a qualifying round in the September and October international windows.
The quarterfinal losers have a chance to join them, via a single-match elimination play-in in March that will decide the two remaining slots for CONCACAF entries.
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Featured VideoCBC Sports’ Devin Heroux speaks to CANMNT interim head coach Mauro Biello about what he hopes he can bring to the job.
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