Canada wins second game at CONCACAF Gold Cup

With a perfect six points after two games, Canada is on the brink of qualifying for the quarter-final phase of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. With a 1:0 victory over El Salvador at the Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH, Canada drew that much closer to advancing beyond the group phase.



Technically, nine teams could still finish with six points (three teams tied in each group), so Canada will watch with interest Groups B and C in the coming days. In the other Tuesday Group A match, Costa Rica won 1:0 over Jamaica. Both Costa Rica and El Salvador have three points after two games.



“We could still finish third,” said Canadian coach Stephen Hart. “We are not thinking at all about the quarter final. We have a game to play against Costa Rica (on Friday). We expect it to be a difficult game.”



The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup runs 3-26 July in 13 cities across USA. Following victories in Los Angeles (1:0 over Jamaica on 3 July) and Columbus (1:0 over El Salvador on 7 July), Canada now heads to Miami for its third and final match of the group phase. Eight of the 12 teams from the three-group opening phase will advance to the quarter-final stage.