The Globe and Mail, November 2nd 1992

The recent Jamaica v. Canada friendly provided a familiar sight to veterans of Canada’s CONCACAF World Cup qualification campaigns.  Outside of a blowout here and there, specifically a friendly on April 5th, 1988 which saw Canada defeated 0-4, Canada Jamaica games have been similarly stingy affairs.

In the World Cup USA 1994 campaign, the difference came by way of Dale Mitchell.  In their meeting on October 18 1992, Mitchell had canceled Hector Wright’s “sizzling volley” (see clip on the right) in the 85th minute, garnering Canada a vital 1-1 draw.  Not bad for a thirty-four year-old who got his first cap for Canada back in 1980.  His form would prove consistent when the same two teams met a couple of weeks later at Varsity Stadium on November 1st, 1992.

Canada coach Bob “Bobby” Lenarduzzi knew the contest would be tough, and that the Jamaicans wouldn’t be too affected by the zero degree Celsius temperatures at Varsity Stadium, Toronto.  Still, the game didn’t create much in the way of chances, despite the Globe and Mail noting the Jamaicans’ “nifty moves” on the “hard and bumpy” Varsity pitch.  The difference came in the fifty-third minute, with striker Alex Bunbury sending a perfect cross to Mitchell who headed in for 1-0, where the scoreline would stay.

Mitchell told the press: “Alex chipped the ball over to me and I had an open net in front of me.  I just had to make sure and head the ball straight into it” (classic Mitchell analysis).  If the name Bunbury sounds familiar by the way, it’s because Canadian U20 international and Alex’s son Teal was picked fourth overall in the 2010 MLS Super Draft for the Kansas City Wizards.