Canada opens World Cup qualifier with tie against Jamaica

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A couple of Scarborough residents combined to produce Canada's only goal in a 1-1 tie against visiting Jamaica in a crucial World Cup qualifying match at BMO Field Wednesday night before a sold-out crowd of almost 22,000.

Julian de Guzman, named Man of the Match for Canada, scored the goal - his fourth international goal and second of the 2008 season - in the 47th minute, on a play started by Dwayne De Rosario on a corner kick.

The kick ended up on de Guzman's foot after being headed by Tomasz Radzinski.

Jamaica, however, responded less than five minutes later, scoring off their own corner kick that was redirected into the net by Canadian keeper Pat Onstad.

Both de Guzman and De Rosario grew up in Scarborough, playing their soccer and attending both elementary and high school, as did a third national team regular from Scarborough, Adrian Serioux, who logged 90 minutes on defence.

De Guzman is the only Canadian player to suit up in La Liga, Spain's top league, where he was voted player of the year for Deportivo la Coruna.

Both De Rosario and Serioux play in Major League Soccer, De Rosario for defending champion Houston Dynamo and Serioux for Dallas FC.

The game opened a crucial World Cup qualifying stage in which Canada plays home-and-home matches against Jamaica, Mexico and Honduras.

The top two teams move on to the next stage next year.

Canada's next game is at home in Montreal Sept. 6 against Honduras.