For the second game in a row, Ali Gerba provided all the offense Canada needed. Gerba scored in the 32nd minute as Canada remained undefeated at the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 1-0 victory over El Salvador last night.
El Salvador defender Manuel Salazar misplayed a cross from Canadian captain Paul Stalteri. The ball fell to Patrice Bernier, who sent a low shot on goal. Gerba redirected the attempt behind goalkeeper Miguel Montes, quieting the loud Salvadoran crowd with his second match-deciding goal of the tournament. “That’s his job,” interim coach Stephen Hart said of Gerba. “He scores goals, he gets himself into good position, he makes it hard for defenders. Tonight, he pinned back both central defenders and once again he came up with the goal.”
Gerba, a Cameroon native who grew up in Toronto, has scored five times in the last four matches dating back to a 2-2 draw with Mexico on Oct. 15 in Edmonton. The Toronto FC striker has six career Gold Cup goals, breaking the Canada record of five previously held by Carlo Corazzin. Gerba also has 15 goals for Canada in 26 appearances. El Salvador (1-1-0) will play a decisive Group A game against Jamaica in Miami on Friday as it seeks to advance to the quarterfinals. Canada (2-0-0) faces Costa Rica needing only a tie to be certain of advancing. (Before then, the results of the games in the other groups may assure Canada a berth in the final eight.)