THE CANADIAN PRESS
LARNACA, Cyprus — Simeon Jackson celebrated his first career senior cap with a second-half goal Saturday to give Canada a 1-0 win over Cyprus in an international friendly.
Jackson picked up a pass at the top of the box from a quickly taken free kick that seemed to catch the Cypriot defence off-guard. The 22-year-old striker, who plays for English club Gillingham, fired the ball past goalkeeper Antonis Georgallides in the 53rd minute.
"It’s a great confidence boost for me to get my first cap and a goal as well," Jackson said after the match. "Now I’m looking forward to the Gold Cup."
Canada’s interim head coach Stephen Hart said his team was fortunate to score on Cyprus’s defensive lapse.
"We had four chances on goal in the first half that we should have done better with," Hart said. "(Jackson’s goal) was one of those situations where there was a lapse in concentration, it wasn’t something we created from our play."
The slow Cypriot offence came to life after the goal, but Canada defended strongly and managed to neutralize most attacks from the hosts.
Canada’s Julian de Guzman dominated play in the midfield, controlling the centre and dictating the pace with sharp passing.
Hart said his team displayed plenty of energy in the first half, but lapsed in the second.
"We had quite a few young players who have never played together," said Hart. "I thought in the first half, the enthusiasm, the way they kept the ball, I was very pleased with (that).
"In the second half, our inexperience showed at times. We rushed, we played a little bit too fast, didn’t know how to take the rhythm out of the game, and Cyprus took advantage of that."
Cyprus coach Angelos Anastasiadis said the match was a good preparation for next week’s World Cup qualifier against Montenegro.
"We were missing that explosiveness that is necessary in such matches and we couldn’t convert on some easy opportunities, but I’m very satisfied with my players," he said.
Canada’s best chance in the first half came in the 41st minute when Jackson failed to get his head on a curling cross right in front of Georgallides. The ball landed at the feet of Josh Simpson, whose hard shot from a difficult angle was saved by the goalkeeper.