GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor

Jamaica's Demar Phillips battles for the ball with Canada's Paul Stalteri (right) during the first half of their 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers soccer match in Toronto yesterday. - ap

toronto, canada

Jamaica survived late game scares to secure a valuable point away from home in their CONCACAF semi-final round World Cup qualifier last night against Canada at the BMO Field here.

An early second-half goal sent Canada into the lead in front of nearly 22,000 fans, including a significant number of Jamaicans. But the Reggae Boyz showed not only the ability to respond almost immediately, but a hearty dose of resolve to earn a 1-1 draw.

"In the end we came out with what we deserved," said captain Ricardo Gardner after the game. "It was a great game."

Clear ideal night

On a clear night ideal for football, Jamaica, understanding that the pressure was always on Canada to win at home, showed early patience, packing midfield and not taking many chances going forward.

Except for a couple anxious moments at the back, mostly through nervous miscommunication rather than Canadian initiative, everything indicated that the Boyz were well schooled in their game plan to keep possession of the ball against lukewarm Canadian pressure, shut down the opposition's key players and blunt the home team's counter- attacks. They also planned to snatch the game late.

"We wanted to win the game," said technical director Rene Simoes, "not draw the game."

With the comfort of the defensive scheme led by sturdy Ian Goodison seemingly set, they tested more adventurous waters as the half wore on. Several decent opportunities came out of this new verve. An inswinging cross from Andy Williams near the half hour mark just missed striker Deon Burton, before also eluding Canada's goalkeeper Pat Onstad. Another teasing cross, this time from Demar Phillips, almost met overlapping Obrian Woodbine at the far post.

The Jamaican supporters sensing the changing tide, chimed in with chants of "Jamaica! Jamaica!" and "Who let the Boyz out!" Canada, meanwhile, showed their frustration. In the 25th minute, Dwayne De Rosario was booked for a clumsy challenge on Rudolph Austin. But it was De Rosario who almost sent the home team ahead. After Williams tugged back advancing Tomasz Radzinski just outside the box, to earn a yellow card, De Rosario sent a dipping free kick just over the crossbar almost on the stroke of half time.

Urgency

Canada came out more urgently in the second half and were rewarded almost immediately. A high cross from the right side in the 47th minute was nodded down by Radzinski at the far post for the onrushing Julian de Guzman to hammer a left footer off Ricketts's outstretched fingers and the inside of the far post, before rolling into the net.

But Jamaica punched right back. Williams curled a teasing 52-nd minute corner kick that Onstad misjudged badly before pushing the ball into his own net for the Boyz's equaliser.

"Andy is a terrific free kicker," Simoes gushed. "I was not surprised he scored."

Three minutes later Williams nearly put Jamaica ahead from another set piece situation, but this time Onstad was better, tipping his swerving right foot shot over the crossbar.

Luton Shelton replaced Williams as Jamaica plugged two forwards up front in a bid for three points. Canada responded almost immediately with an attacking thrust of their own, replacing Patrice Bernier with forward Iain Hume as both teams opened up and raised the tempo. But it was a sharp double save from Ricketts that kept the score tied in the 71st minute. First, the goalkeeper flashed to his left to parry De Rosario's stab, then went sharply low to the same side to block Rob Friend's follow-up header.

Canada missed a golden chance 10 minutes from full time when the dangerous De Rosario eluded his marker, but his wide open header missed the upright as Jamaica hung on.

But they were not totally out of the woods. A screaming right footer from de Guzman in the 87th minute clipped the crossbar much to Jamaica's relief. In the 90th, Ricketts botched a high ball in the box under pressure, but the dependable Goodison's lunging tackle thwarted De Rosario, who had picked up the loose ball, to preserve the result.

JAMAICA: Donovan Ricketts, Obrian Woodbine, Jermaine Taylor, Ian Goodison, Evan Taylor, Andy Williams (64th - Luton Shelton), Demar Phillips (90-plus - Jermaine Hue), Wolry Wolfe, Ricardo Gardner, Rudolph Austin and Deon Burton.

SUBSTITUTES NOT USED: Shawn Sawyers, Keneil Moodie, Demar Stewart, Davion Thorpe and Omar Cummings.

CANADA: Pat Onstad, Mike Klukowski, Richard Hastings, Adrian Serioux, Paul Stalteri, Julian de Guzman, Atiba Hutchinson, Patrice Bernier (65th - Iain Hume), Dwayne De Rosario, Tomasz Radzinski and Rob Friend (77th - Ali Gerba).

SUBSTITUTES NOT USED: Greg Sutton, Daniel Imhof, Kevin McKenna and Jim Brennan.

CAUTIONS: Canada - Dwayne De Rosario and Atiba Hutchinson. Jamaica - Andy Williams.

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.