Your Source for Stories, Stats and Opinion on Soccer in Ontario
September 8, 2010
Plenty of positives from Canadian win over Honduras
(Paul James, Globe and Mail) - Well, what a difference a few days can make. After being humbled at the hands of Peru on Saturday in Toronto, our Canadian men’s soccer team showed some real fighting spirit and at times even a little panache on the ball in beating a decent Honduran team 2-1 at Saputo Stadium in Montreal.
Whatever veteran Canadian centre-back Kevin McKenna ate for breakfast he should eat again when he plays for Canada because his drive and passion was at fever pitch from start to finish. He has played well for Canada before but this was, under the circumstances, a particularly impressive performance. And it rubbed off on all the Canadian players, who played like they had something to prove.
But it was not just that. Head coach Stephen Hart got his tactics and approach right along with key personnel changes which made a difference. Gone was the self-indulgence and individualistic approach and instead it was replaced by the more efficient and pragmatic method of far simpler players. >>>
September 7, 2010
Canada opens U-17 group with a win
(CSA) - Canada opened the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago with a slim 1:0 victory over Ghana on Monday 6 September. After a slow opening, the young Canucks came out flying to start the second half and were rewarded for their efforts as Haisha Cantave converted a 53rd minute corner kick for the lone goal of the match. The Group D match was played in extremely humid conditions at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago.
"I thought our players were very disciplined and organized throughout the match," said head coach Bryan Rosenfeld. "We were under a lot of pressure at times from a Ghana side that put up a very good game. We need to do a better job of keeping the ball and passing."
Ghana outshot Canada 10–0 in what was a mostly forgettable first half for the Canadians. The shot differential was due in large part to Ghana’s willingness to shoot from distance with few of the long-range efforts troubling Sabrina D’Angelo in the Canadian goal. The shots that did find the target were well handled by D’Angelo who was excellent throughout the match. >>>
September 7, 2010
Changes await Canada ahead of Honduras clash
(CP) - They've already slipped out of the top 100 in FIFA world rankings and now Canada's national soccer team does not want the added pain of losing twice at home in a week, even if they are only friendly matches.
After dropping a 2-0 decision to Peru at BMO Field in Toronto on Saturday, Canada takes on Honduras at 13,000-seat Saputo Stadium in Montreal on Tuesday night.
"Everyone who played Saturday has a point to prove now because we can't lose two games at home," midfielder Iain Hume of the English club Barnsley said after training on Monday.
"It's one of them things -- we really need to make playing in Canada enjoyable to the fans as well as us, so we're going to have to prove that every game you play here is going to be tough." >>>
(Paul Attfield, Globe and Mail) - Canada’s long wait for an international victory on home soil will have to wait at least a few more days after Peru grabbed a convincing 2-0 win at Toronto’s BMO Field on Saturday.
Stephen Hart’s men, who last tasted success in front of their own fans more than two years ago – June 20, 2008, in a 4-1 World Cup qualifying win over St. Vincent in Montreal – had a hard time containing the skilled South Americans, who finally broke through in the second half through Jose Carlos Fernandez, before substitute Jean Tragodara tacked on an insurance marker barely five minutes later.
Peru, whose own World Cup finals drought stretches back even further than Canada’s – La Rojiblanca last qualified for the 1982 tournament in Spain, four years before Canada’s first and only appearance – came to Toronto, like Canada, looking to put a dismal World Cup qualifying campaign behind them, having finished dead last in the 10-team CONMEBOL standing. >>>
