Jamaica's Luton Shelton tries to hold off a challenge from Dejan Jakovic during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup openinh encounter. Canada won 1-0. (Photo courtesy of the Canadasoccer.com)

Los Angeles, USA – The Reggae Boyz went down to a 0-1 defeat in the opening match of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. They were defeated by Canada by an Ali Gerba strike in the 75th minute of the tournament opener at The Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, California. The Canadians started more positively as the Reggae Boyz took more time to settle. It was the Canadians who had the first real opportunity on goal through the dangerous goalscorer Gerba. He had the help of the referee as Damion Stewart attempted clearance from a freekick struck the official and rebounded to the Canadians who played it into Gerba’s path. Luckily the Jamaican defense did not panic and managed to dispossess Gerba.

Luton Shelton had an opportunity to go at goal in the 10th minute when he was set up by Ricardo Fuller with a headed pass but he turned away from goal. Six minutes later Shelton turned provider when he dribbled through the middle and passed to Gardner whose weak shot from the edge of the area rolled harmlessly to goalkeeper Greg Sutton.

Jermaine Johnson was Jamaica’s most dangerous player as he constantly troubled the Canadian defense with dribbles down the right flank. In the 24th minute he took a ball off Shelton on the right, cut inside and curled a low left-footed effort inches past the right upright while Sutton looked on clueless.

Johnson was at it again four minutes later. This time in concert with Fuller, he glided into the 18-yard box and headed further goalwards before going down under a challenge from the Canadian defense. While he looked up hopefully for a penalty, referee Terrry Vaughn raced in to brandish a yellow card.

A minute later, the brilliant Donovan Ricketts in goal for Jamaica acrobatically turned over a Kevin McKenna header from an Atiba Hutchinson cross.

In the 34th minute, Bernier fired a shot just wide of the right post following some Canadian momentum in midfield. It was de Guzman who made the final touch to Bernier on the left side; rushing down the right side, Will Johnson couldn't quite catch the shot before it ran beyond the post.

Five minutes later, De Guzman who had a good game in midfield had a long low drive straight at Ricketts.

In the second half, substitute Josh Simpson wasted little time as within seconds of entering the field on the resumption, he tested Ricketts. His blast brought a sharp save from Ricketts. The resultant corner kick saw firing high from a Demar Phillips half clearance.

The Reggae Boyz responded and created good opportunities. In the 55th minute, Fuller set up Damion Stewart whose solid drive from close range was saved by Sutton. Three minutes later Sutton and Shelton exchanged kindness. Sutton threw the ball to the Jamaican attacker on the left flank and with an empty goal at his disposal, Shelton Fired the ball back at Sutton who caught it above his head.

In the 64th minute, Tyrone Marshall headed the ball forward to Ricardo Fuller who found himself with Jamaica’s best opportunity of the game. With McKenna in his wake, Fuller pushed forward and fired at the advancing Sutton who saved. The follow up by Fuller was also saved.

Both teams made changes in the 71st minute but it was the Jamaican change that was more telling. Oneil Thompson replaced Rodolph Austin who appeared to be suffering from cramps but it was his fooling around in the midfield that led the Canadian goal four minutes later.

Thompson tried some fancy stuff in the middle of the field and lost possession. The ball was swung over to Michael Kuklowski on the left flank. Kuklowski motored down the left flank and sent in a teasing cross while Stewart attempted to close him down. Claude Davis took his eye of Gerba momentarily and the Canadian pulled off him and volleyed angularly across Ricketts and inside the right upright.

Jamaica tried to respond with the introduction of Jamal Campbell-Ryce for Johnson in the 76th minute and Omar Cummings for Davis in the 81st but without any change.

The Reggae Boyz play their second match in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Tuesday July 7 in Columbus, Ohio against Costa Rica who are also pointless in the four team group. Canada will meet El Salvador.

TEAMS: Jamaica:

Goalkeeper –1- Donovan Ricketts; Defenders – 14-Tyrone Marshall, -4- Claude Davis (22- Omar Cummings 81st), -3- Damion Stewart; Midfielders – 17 - Rodolph Austin (20- Oneil Thompson 71st), - 7 -Jason Morrison, - 16- Jermaine Johnson( 8- Jamal Campbell-Ryce), -12- Demar Phillips; Attackers- 15 - Ricardo Gardner, - 10 - Ricardo Fuller and -11- Luton Shelton. Subs not used: Dwayne Miller, Eric Vernon, Nicholas Addlery, Dane Richards Booked: Davis (24th), Johnson (28th), Shelton (44th), Phillips (70th), Thompson (89th)

Canada:

GK- 1- Greg Sutton; Defenders- 2- Adrian Cann, - 3 - Mike Klukowski, -5-Kevin Mckenna, -7- Paul Stalteri, - 14 - Dejan Jakovic; Midfielders – 6 - Julian de Guzman, - 13 - Atiba Hutchinson, -20- Patrice Bernier, -10- William Johnson(Simeon Jackson 70th); Forwards – 8 - Marcel De Jong (Josh Simpson 46th), -9- Ali Gerba. Subs not used: Adrian Cann, Richard Hastings, Issey Nakajima-Farran, Booked: de Guzman (36th) Officials: Referee – Terry Vaughn (USA) Assistant Referee 1 – Charles Morgante (USA) Assistant Referee 2 – Modesto Hierrezuelo (Cuba) Fourth Official – Jair Marrufo (USA) Match Commissioner – Richard Groden Referee Inspector – Lisle Austin General Coordinator – Jill Fracisco Venue Press Officer – Renata Pereira