10.9.2008 - CAN 1:2 MEX
FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers
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| Location: | Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapa |
| Stadium: | Estadio Víctor Manuel Reyna |
| Attendance: | 24500 |
| Kickoff: | 00:00 |
| Broadcast: | Rogers Sportsnet |
| Match Tracker: | SCORE FINAL |
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| Canada: | MNT CAN |
| Opponent: | MEX (Mexico) |
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Ali Gerba had fire in his eyes when he cut the Mexican lead in half with 13 minutes to go. The team was resolved to salvage a point after it dug a two-goal deficit in the second half. On this particular night, however, it was too little too late.
Despite its best efforts, Canada couldn't come back against the confederation's top-ranked country. After 90 minutes, it was a 1:2 loss to Mexico in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico. Through three games in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Qualifiers, Canada is stuck on just one point.
"This one was always going to be a tough one, probably the toughest game in CONCACAF - playing Mexico away from home," said coach Dale Mitchell. "We did everything we could to get a result tonight, but we didn't get it."
Mexico played to its reputation, maintaining possession and creating numerous offensive chances throughout the game. Canada's defence, which featured goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld in net for the second-straight match, held the game scoreless for the first half.
After the half, Mexico returned to its game, keeping Canada in its own end with the pressure on. Then in the 59th minute, Omar Bravo open the gate with a header to the back of the net. Bravo, who came on as a substitute for the teenaged Giovanni Dos Santos, redirected the pass from Ricardo Osorio.
Up 1-0 with the crowd on its feet, it didn't take long for Mexico to double its lead. Off the corner kick, it was Mexican captain Rafael Marquez's turn to score for the home side.
Desperate for some offence, coach Mitchell inserted the offensive-minded Gerba and Iain Hume with roughly 20 minutes to go. Sure enough in the 77th minute, it was a Hume free kick that led to the Gerba goal, the 10th of Gerba’s international career. Hume fired the shot from the right side right into the penalty area; Gerba was well in position to jump and head the ball past Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez.
With a goal in hand, Canada continued its pressure in the Mexican end. As the final whistle drew near, however, Mexico regrouped and rebuilt its attack on Canada. Fortunately, Hirschfeld was up to the task to stop the late Mexican attack. At the other end, though, Canada was unable to beat Sanchez a second time.
On the road to Canada’s next game on 11 October in Honduras, at least two players will be unavailable to the Canadian team. Dwayne De Rosario and Adrian Serioux each received their second cautions of the stage and will thus be suspended from the match in Honduras.
In what the third match in CONCACAF Stage III of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Qualifiers, coach Mitchell made two changes to his starting XI. Tomasz Radzinski (injury) and Patrice Bernier (suspension) were not available, so in came Jim Brennan and Issey Nakajima-Farran. Up next on the Canadian schedule is the 11 October match in Honduras, the 15 October match in Edmonton (against Mexico), and the 19 October match in Jamaica.
“There are still three matches left to play, said coach Mitchell. “We have to approach them with the right mentality." | | |
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