Canada vs Jamaica 1st half blog

0 minutes, Canada is running a usual 4-5-1 tonight, with Rob Friend playing as the lone striker. I might mention thank goodness I own the cable package that I can see the game live on the Pacific channel, even if I live in Ontario, did I mention I now hate the Blue Jays.

2 minutes DeRosario commits a foul on a Jamaica, ref gives away the free kick and the Torontonio faithful let him know what they feel about it, thank goodness we have a full house tonight. For once it’s a pro Canada crowd, not like the times we have seen other nations control the fans… ala Calgary 8 years back or so.

6 minutes The play has been stuck in the midfield for the most part, Canada controlling most of the possession early on, Jamaica has made one attack which failed quickly when the ball couldn’t be controlled as it went passed the goal line.

7 minutes Rob Friend has a small chance on net, but it’s Ricketts first safe of the evening, as he tries to show his goaltending prowess, the man needs a job right now with no club currently owning him.

10 minutes Jamaica is playing like the rasta man, a very lazy pace so far early on, very cautious and no real attacking so far. Canada on the other hand is trying to force the ball up the field early on, some nice passes but can’t make that 3rd or 4th touch really count.

11 minutes Radzinski has a good from the left side outside the goal box and blasts it way over the bar. For a second there I thought I was watching a Jaap Stam penalty kick (Please refer to Euro 2000 against Italy).

13 minutes DeRosario has a free kick and almost has it go in as Gardner (captain for Jamaica) heads the ball just passed his net. Corner kick for Canada.

17 minutes Jamaica was taking over possession for a bit, but not moving forward, sort of like stuck in reverse over there. They really need a lucky egg or something to kiss, or a bobsled chant to move forward.

20 minutes Pat Onstad has his first work of the night, and it all ends in him taking a free kick, should mention that he now has his 56th cap and now leads Canadian goalkeepers in most caps earned for Canada.

23 minutes Patrice Bernier has a chance at goal and gains a corner off of it. The corner kick from DeRosario left much to be desired as it falls from the sky into the hands of Ricketts.

24 minutes DeRosario gains himself a yellow card with a clip to the feet of the Jamaican, pretty easy yellow card to call, he was no where near gaining control of the ball.

28 minutes Free Kick for Jamaica just outside the box, center left 5 feet away, free kick is taking and on target, right into the gut of Onstad who doesn’t have to move in the least to safe the ball.

32 minutes Jamaica comes to life with a nice passing play, and has started to take control of possession in the midfield currently, almost comes with a goal as a header in side the box just goes passed the left side of the post.

34 minutes Canada has gone back to playing high school soccer and is just booting the ball downfield at the moment to get it out of harms way as Jamaica continues the pressure.

35 minutes Wolfe for Jamaica has gone done for a stoppage in play as his ankle sort of twists as he falls to ground, should be okay, but has stopped play for the moment as the Canadian team uses it as a water break.

40 minutes Canada has slowed down the tempo as well now and is taking time in moving the ball up the field, doing the old prodding and feeling technique against the very defensive Jamaican. squad.

45 minutes De Rosario with a long free kick in and this time Ricketts has to jump over Friend to get control on the ball and send it out on play… 1 minute of injury time has been added

45 minutes + 1 DeRosairo gets taken down by Andy Williams and a yellow card is giving out, a free kick is given 25 feet from goal on the left side for Canada. De Rosario just sends the ball over the net and that ends the first half.

Canada 0 — Jamaica 0.