McAnuff, McCleary score, Jamaica ties Costa Rica 2

The Ticos will look to continue their strong quarterfinal run from the World Cup Brazil 2014 in the Gold Cup but with a new manager as Paulo Wanchope has replaced Jorge Luis Pinto.

El Salvador, perhaps, would have felt more disappointed after generating the bulk of the chances, especially in an opening half-hour which saw it threaten Canada’s defense.

The side are most well known due to their qualification for the 1998 World Cup with their “Reggae Boyz” generation including a young Wanderers cult hero Ricardo Gardner.

Jamaica and Costa Rica played out a thrilling 2-2 draw to begin their respective 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaigns.

Wanchope, a former center forward for Costa Rica, is still searching for his first win as head coach.

That’s not even mentioning the fact that South American soccer federation’s CONMEBOL is still struggling to pay out its winners for the Copa América in the wake of FIFA investigations. The next four teams from the Gold Cup will enter a playoff for the last two spots in the 2016 Copa América Centenario.

Jamaica have no time to reflect on a job well done, though, as just three days later they play Canada in Houston.

“I think now we have to get the mindset that not only do we want to challenge teams but [that] we want to go out and win the game”, Ledgerwood explained to Waking The Red. They are the clear favorites and should manage a solid 2-0 win out of this match.

As a reminder of what is on the line here in the Gold Cup. “But at the Gold Cup, with the confidence within the team, we expect us to take more chances at goal”, said Coley here on Tuesday.

On the other side of the pitch, Jamaica couldn’t find much success, but striker Darren Mattocks remains a top poacher who should do better against CONCACAF defences. El Salvador and Canada were to meet later in the night.

Fourteen years to the day of Tuesday’s opener, the teams played to a 0-0 draw before the U.S. defeated Honduras 4-3 on penalty kicks to lift the inaugural 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Joel McAnuff opened the second half with a nifty dribble drive through the Costa Rican defense before shooting a rocket past Esteban Alvarado to knot the game at 2 in the 48th minute.