Canada beats Guatemala in Gold Cup tune-up

Listen to coach Stephen Hart.



Canada’s men’s national team played its final preparatory match today before the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Near the culmination of a six-day mini camp in Oxnard, CA, Canada won 3:0 over Guatemala at Oxnard College. It was Canada’s second win of the 2009 season.



“We created a fair number of chances and should have been a little more ruthless,” said coach Stephen Hart. “Ali (Gerba) took his first goal very well – a diving header. His second goal was a penalty. As for the build up to the goal that Patrice (Bernier) scored, it (was something that) got you off your seat.”



Canada opens the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup this Friday 3 July at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles. The Canada-Jamaica match kicks off at 17.00 PT (20.00 ET) and can be viewed live on Sportsnet Ontario and Sportsnet West.



“We played two strong halves of football,” said defender Kevin McKenna, selected Canada’s man of the match. “I think we can go positive into the game against Jamaica.”



Canada, Jamaica, El Salvador and Costa Rica make up the four-team Group A in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Group B features Grenada, Haiti, Honduras and USA while Group C features Guadeloupe, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.



“Overall, we need to be a little more clinical, a little more composed in the penalty area,” said Hart. “We take those chances when they come.”



The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup runs 3-26 July in 13 cities across USA. After the opening match on 3 July, Canada faces El Salvador on 7 July in Columbus, OH and then Costa Rica on 10 July in Miami, FL. All three of Canada’s group matches will be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet.