International Football - Gold Cup wins for El Salvador and Canada

04/07/2009 11:37:58

In Group A, El Salvador, backed by an impressive following at the Home Depot Centre, pulled off an upset 2-1 win over Costa Rica while Canada beat Jamaica 1-0 in an earlier game at the same venue.

Osael Romero scored both goals for El Salvador in a high-intensity game. The forward opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a superb solo finish after Williams Reyes had headed on a long ball.

Costa Rica pulled level in the 63rd minute with a close range strike from Warren Granados before Romero grabbed the winner five minutes from the end with a side foot finish after poor defending from the Costa Ricans.

In the earlier game, Canada's Ali Gerba struck the winner in the 75th minute when Mike Klukowski looped a cross into the area from the left wing and Gerba's first-time volley flew past Jamaica keeper Donovan Ricketts.

Jamaica had put Canada under pressure with Ricardo Gardner going close, while Canada goalkeeper Greg Sutton produced a fine close-range save from striker Ricardo Fuller in the 65th minute.

Champions the United States begin their campaign in Seattle against Grenada while Honduras take on Haiti.

Reuters