Canada advances to Gold Cup quarter-finals

Source: Agencies  |   2009-7-11  |     ONLINE EDITION

CANADA booked a place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals and finished top of Group A after a 2-2 draw against Costa Rica yesterday.

Patrice Bernier and Marcel De Jong scored goals for the Canadians who finished with seven points after two wins and a draw.

A draw was also good enough for Costa Rica to advance to the knock-out rounds after they finished second behind Canada on four points.

Midfielder Walter Centeno helped earn the Central American nation the draw with a game-tying goal in the 34th minute, the final score of the match.

Andy Herron took an assist from Esteban Sirias to give the Costa Ricans a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute before Bernier combined with Josh Simpson to answer two minutes later.

In other Group A action, striker Omar Cummings scored in the 69th minute to deliver Jamaica its first win of the tournament, a 1-0 victory over El Salvador.

The two teams are tied for third place in the group on three points, and must rely on favorable results in other group matches to advance.