Mississauga’s Jackson scores three for Norwich City

Canadians have enjoyed some fine days in the lower tiers of English soccer. Paul Peschisolido created a fine personal highlight reel helping clubs get promoted to the Premiership, then moving on to other lower-tier sides. His extra-time wonder goal for Sheffield United in a 2003 promotion playoff against Nottingham Forest was his finest hour.

But, in all of Peschisolido’s days — which counted over 150 goals in English league soccer — he never enjoyed 90-plus minutes like Mississauga native Simeon Jackson had Monday in a thrilling 3-2 Norwich City victory over Derby County.

Jackson scored all of Norwich’s goals, including the match-winner six minutes into stoppage time, as Norwich preserved its one point lead over Cardiff for second spot in the League Championship, which means automatic promotion to the English Premier League.

Jackson scored with his head, then added a 20-yard drive to give Norwich a 2-1 lead. But Derby came back to tie the match. With Cardiff winning 1-0 over Preston North End, Norwich had to get the full three points to hold onto second place. Jackson obliged with a left-footed shot from inside the penalty area.

Jackson, Canada’s player of the year in 2009, is now up to 12 goals on the season, and Norwich holds the slight one-point advantage with two games to play.

Jackson is on a two-year deal with an option for a third year. So, Jackson will be under contract to Norwich if the Canaries do get promoted to the EPL. Canadian fans will hope that he wouldn’t suffer the same fate as Peschisolido, and simply get moved to another Championship side.

But, it wasn’t all good news for Canadians in the Championship. Iain Hume played just 34 minutes in Preston’s 1-0 defeat to Cardiff. The result guarantees that PNE will be relegated.

And, Jaime Peters watched Ipswich Town lose to Swansea City from his spot on the bench.