Copa America

Costa Rica 2-2 Jamaica

Impressive McAnuff strike secures draw

A brilliant solo goal from Jobi McAnuff saw Jamaica return to the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-2 draw in an end-to-end encounter against Costa Rica in Carson, California, on Wednesday.
Garath McLeary gave Jamaica the lead before goals from Roy Ramirez and David Miller put Costa Rica into the lead inside the first half.
But, McAnuff dribbled past two opponents to get into the box and then poked his shot under goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado to secure a point.

Having failed to qualify for the 2013 Gold Cup, Jamaica had entered this year's tournament on the back of a three-game losing streak at the Copa America but held their own against the Ticos.

While Wednesday's match featured some questionable defending at both ends, it did not detract from the entertainment value as both sides pushed for a winning goal throughout the second half.

Poor defending from Costa Rica saw Jamaica take the lead in the 13th minute, with a long throw bouncing over Junior Diaz, allowing Garath McCleary to volley the opener at the back post.

As the half wore on, however, Costa Rica started to take control and turned the match around in the space of five minutes, with Roy Miller and David Ramirez getting on the score sheet.

A free-kick saw the ball played across the edge of the box for the Central Americans' equaliser, with Ramirez then dinking a pass over the opposition defence for Miller to nod home.

Ramirez then put Wanchope's team ahead after Jamaica defender Wes Morgan failed to deal with a long pass and the Costa Rica striker got in behind to lift his shot over keeper Dwayne Miller.

But just two minutes into the second half, Jamaica dragged Costa Rica back thanks to McAnuff's impressive surge from midfield.

The rest of the match saw a raft of chances at both ends, with Johan Venegas almost putting Costa Rica ahead just a minute after McAnuff's goal only for Miller to palm the shot away, while Jamaica substitute Darren Mattocks shot straight at Alvarado after the hour mark.

Jamaica wasted a four-on-two opportunity with four minutes remaining before Costa Rica broke the other way, only for Miller to parry Deyver Vega's shot.

In the 89th minute, Simon Dawkins failed to convert an opportunity from close range, which would have handed the Jamaicans victory, with Alvarado pulling off another impressive save.