SEMI-FINAL REPORTS
Defensive Errors Cost Peru Dear, Forrest's Penalty Save Helps Canada Through
FEBRUARY 23: COLOMBIA 2 PERU 1
Colombia defeated Peru 2-1 in the Qualcomm Stadium on Wednesday night to advance to Sunday's final in Los Angeles, where they will face Canada. New coach Luis Garcia, who replaced Javier Alvarez only two weeks ago, said: "It's very important for us to win a tournament like this. It helps us prepare and see where we are for the World Cup qualifiers."
Colombia's goalscorer was Victor Bonilla, who netted in the 53rd minute to add to the own goal that Peru's Marcial Salazar had gifted in the first half. A twenty-five yard strike from Roberto Palacios was only a late consolation for Peru.
Colombia had gone into the match in some confusion, with Bonilla – who is on loan from Real Madrid to Valladolid – one of three last minute replacemtns to the squad after keeper Miguel Calero and midfielder Frankie Olveido were called back to their clubs for the Liberators Club (the football championship of South American.)
Preparations for this match were not helped by the suspensions of forward Edwin Congo and defender Gerado Bedoya for yellow cars during the tournament. However, replacement keeper Diego Gomez and defender Arley Dinas played key roles in the match.
With 35 minutes gone, Gomez tipped Jorge Soto's 30 yard freekick over the crossbar. Within a minute, Dinas header at the other end led to an own goal courtesy of Salazar. A defensive error was also to blame for Colombia's second goal, when Juan Reynoso tried to chest a Faustino Asprilla header back to his keeper. But Oscar Ibanez was not alert to the situation and Bonilla stole in for the simplest of finishes from five yards.
FEBRUARY 24: CANADA 1 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 0
A 68th minute headed goal from defender Mark Watson was enough to ensure Canada's passage to the final of the Gold Cup at the expense of Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday night. The semi-final victory means that Canada are certain to qualify for the next Confederations Cup.
However, Canada owe a big debt of gratitude to keeper Craig Forrest of West Ham, who saved a penalty after 36 minutes. Watson fouled Jerren Nixon in the box and the spot-kick was awarded. Unfortunately for Trinidad and Tobago, David Nakhid hesitated in his run up and could only hit a soft shot, which Forrest saved diving to his right.
The keeper said: "Carlo Corrazin told me the player was going to hesitate to shoot and wait for me to move. We thought it was going to be Russell Latapy (to take the penalties.) "As it happened, Nakhid did hold his ground once to see if I would go down, and that made it difficult to get any power on the shot. I stood up as long as I could."
It was a proud night for Forrest, who equalled Paul Dolan's Canadian records of 51 appearances for the national side as a keeper and 16 clean sheets.
The goal came when a Jim Brennan cross from the left was flicked on by Carlo Corrazin and Watson rose to head home just inside the right-hand upright for his third goal for his country.
Trinidad and Tobago were without Dwight Yorke for the second match running, after he sustained a calf injury during Manchester United's victory over Leeds on Sunday. He was not even on the bench.
Canadian coach Holger Osieck said:" "Nobody ever expected us to win the title," Osieck said of Canada's berth in the next Confederations Cup. "But to convince people to support your programme, you've got to win a title. Our team did not play too well but we shouldn't forget that most of our players are very young, and they've never played in a final before tonight. Our experienced players guided the young guys."
Osieck hopes that the success will help to generate domestic support for a team ranked 85th in the world. In terms of rankings, the victory over 49th ranked Trinidad and Tobago in the Memorial Coliseum was a significant scalp. Canada will play Colombia in the final on Sunday.
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