TORONTO, Canada — Canada, still smarting from their 1-2 defeat to Jamaica at the quarter-final stage of the recent CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, will have their chance at revenge today.

And they have made it clear that is what will spur them on.

Both nations will meet in a rematch in a friendly international fixture at BMO field at 7:00 pm (6:00 pm Jamaica time). Officials claim that some 20,000 are expected inside the 30,000-capacity venue, the home of MLS outfit Toronto FC and a familiar hunting ground for Jamaica’s MLS campaigners.

Weather forecasters have put the temperature at around 60 degrees Fahrenheit around game time.

But for Jamaica’s interim head coach Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore, this evening’s match is aimed at “giving a good performance” and to continue the build-up towards Qatar 2022.

But the tone of the 95th-ranked Canadians suggests a bloodlust, for avenging their loss to the Boyz in Glendale, Arizona, on July 20. On the scoresheet for Jamaica in their last meeting were Romario Williams and Shaun Francis, while Junior Hoilett replied for the North Americans.

“One of the most important things is that we need to give a good performance (as) the continuity of the programme depends on good performances on the pitch,” Whitmore told had told the Jamaica Observer recently.

Jamaica captain, Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake, who was a star performer in the Gold Cup quarter-final encounter, said his team could deliver a double stake to the hearts of the Canadians, but a disciplined delivery is required.

“They (Canada) are a very good opponent who are playing on their home soil, but we know it’s possible that we can win and it’s good we are here again as a group as we continue to build.

“What we have to do is establish our game plan, as we have been doing, which is to go out there and stick to it, apply ourselves and bring to the game what is necessary to get a positive result,” he noted.

The Boyz, ranked 57th by FIFA, were due for a late evening training session at the match venue yesterday, after which Whitmore would be in a better position to name his final 11 for the encounter.

“There is a little bit of revenge going there,” said Canada coach Octavio Zambrano. “We have to assert ourselves on our home field. [They were] our team to beat to continue in our quest to get to the final stage of the Gold Cup.”

Hoilett, who has Jamaican roots, was very direct in making the point that revenge is his motivation.

“I want to really get the win because my background is Jamaican and half my family is rooting for them,” Hoilett was quoted as saying.

“I want to get back at them (Jamaica), get the bragging rights on our side, which I think we deserved. The way we played against them last game it was unlucky to only get one goal; we should have had three or four. It’s way more than a friendly for me,” he said.

Today’s game will be the 21st all-time meeting between the two countries with Canada holding a slight lead in the all-time series with an 8-6-6 record against the Reggae Boyz. Jamaica have won the last two meetings, beating them in the last two editions of the Gold Cup.

Also, the BMO field showdown will be the sixth meeting between them in Toronto, which has a large Jamaican expatriate population.

Squads

Jamaica — Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union), Dwayne Miller (Syrianska), Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers), Shaun Francis (Montreal Impact), Oniel Fisher (Seattle Sounders), Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls), Jermaine Taylor (Minnesota United FC), Damion Lowe (IK Start), Ladale Richie (Montego Bay United), Je-Vaughn Watson (New England Revolution), Ewan Grandison (Portmore United), Jamiel Hardware (Boys’ Town FC), Michael Binns (Portmore United), Ricardo Morris (Portmore United), Vishinul Harris (Arnett Gardens), Devon Williams (Louisville City FC), Romario Williams (Atlanta United FC, on loan to Charleston Battery), Shamar Nicholson (Boys’ Town FC), Marvin Morgan (Arnett Gardens), Dane Kelly (Reno 1868 FC).

Canada — Simon Thomas (FK Bodo/Glimt), Jayson Leutwiler (Blackburn Rovers), James Pantemis (Montreal Impact), Nik Ledgerwood (FC Edmonton), Manjrekar James (Vasas Budapest), Michael Petrasso (Queens Park Rangers), Dejan Jakovic (New York Cosmos), Sam Adekugbe (IFK Goteborg, on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps), Amer Didic (Sporting Kansas City), Marcel de Jong (Vancouver Whitecaps), Samuel Piette (Montreal Impact), David Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City), Alphonso Davies (Vancouver Whitecaps), Atiba Hutchinson (Besiktas), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Louisville City), Raheem Edwards (Toronto FC), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Tesho Akindele (FC Dallas), David Choiniere (Montreal Impact), Jay Chapman (Toronto FC), Tosaint Ricketts (Toronto FC), Cyle Larin (Orlando City), Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Montreal Impact).