Marcel de Jong (pictured) scored in Canada's 3-1 win over Jamaica in an international friendly on September 9, 2014, in Toronto. (Photo courtesy of Canada Soccer)
TORONTO – Canada rallied from an early deficit to earn a 3-1 victory over visiting Jamaica in an international friendly on Tuesday at BMO Field.
The win was Canada’s first under head coach Benito Floro since he took the managerial reins after the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and its first since beating Cuba 3-0 on October 12, 2012. The Canadians also extended their unbeaten streak to three games.
Kemar Lawrence gave Jamaica a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute, striking a left-footed free kick that goalkeeper Milan Borjan got a hand on, but couldn’t stop.
The host replied swiftly and equalized one minute later through David Edgar. The Birmingham City defender got on the end of a Patrice Bernier corner kick to volley home from outside the 18-yard box.
Borjan remained sharp on a number of occasions to keep the score level and allowed his team to find a victory with a pair of second-half goals.
In the 68th minute, Marcel de Jong - in similar fashion to Lawrence’s effort earlier - swung in a left-footed free kick that left Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake helpless to put Canada ahead 2-1.
Tosaint Ricketts netted a 73rd minute insurance goal, knocking in a rebound from a Simeon Jackson attempt that handcuffed Blake.
Canada returns to action on November 18 in a friendly at Panama, while Jamaica will face host Japan on October 10.
