Huge win for Canada
having strong teams in the MLS and USL are one of the reasons
FOX Sports on MSN - USA - 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Guzman scored the two goals for Canada
De Guzman scores twice to rally Canada
MIAMI (AP) - Julian De Guzman scored two second-half goals and rallied Canada to a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica Wednesday night in the opening round match of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
De Guzman dribbled past defenders Victor Cordero and Jervis Dremmond, and bent a left-footed shot from just outside the area into the far-side netting in the 73rd for the winner.
Costa Rica's best opportunity for an equalizer occurred in the 83rd minute when Rolando Fonseca's deflected shot outside the goal area missed the right post by a meter.
De Guzman, who plays for Deportivo La Coruna in Spain, equalized in the 58th minute with a low 20-yard shot which landed inside the left post.
On a rainy night in the Orange Bowl, Costa Rica created little offense early, but led on Walter Centeno's goal 12 minutes into the second half.
Centeno retrieved a loose ball on the left, dribbled across the top of the penalty area and arched a shot which landed high inside the right post behind Canadian goalkeeper Pat Onstad.
A team with a limited international play in 2007, Canada was the aggressor for most of the first half. Dominating the ball enabled Canada to generate repeated scoring opportunities.
Canada nearly broke through in the 36th minute when Costa Rica goalkeeper Jose Francisco Porras dived to deflect Robert Friend's shot just outside the 6-yard area. Atiba Hutchinson's cross from the right found an unmarked Friend, who volleyed a low shot toward the left post before Porras' save.
In stoppage time, De Guzman had an uncontested shot from 22 yards but it sailed wide off the left post.
Earlier, striker Paul Stalteri had Canada's first scoring opportunity of the match when his 20-yard shot hit the left post in the 28th minute.
Centeno fed Alvaro Saborio with a long pass in the Canada goal area but Onstad emerged from the box to clear away the ball before Saborio could take a shot in the 33rd minute.
Canada will play Guadeloupe in its second group match Saturday, while Costa Rica will face Haiti also on Saturday.
GOLDCUP- Canada-2- Costa Rica-1/F
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