NationalMatches Men's National Team vs Belgium
November 23, 2022 | Kickoff: 02:00PM ET
[2022-12] FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™
Men's National Team

Men's National Team

0 - 1

Belgium

Belgium

Al Rayyan, Qatar | Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium

Attendance: 40432

  • Alistair Johnston

    83'

  • Alphonso Davies

    82'

  • Liam Millar
    Tajon Buchanan

    80'

  • Jonathan Osorio
    Stephen Eustáquio

    80'
  • 78'

    Lois Openda
    Michy Batshuayi

  • Samuel Adekugbe
    Richie Laryea

    74'
  • 62'

    Leandro Trossard
    Eden Hazard

  • David Junior Hoilett
    Atiba Hutchinson

    58'

  • Ismaël Koné
    Cyle Larin

    58'
  • 56'

    Amadou Onana

  • 54'

    Thomas Meunier

  • 46'

    Thomas Meunier
    Yannick Carrasco

  • 46'

    Amadou Onana
    Youri Tielemans

  • 44'

    Michy Batshuayi

  • 9'

    Yannick Carrasco

Timeline

Men's National Team
  • KO

    KO

  • 9 ' | Yannick Carrasco

  • 44 ' | Michy Batshuayi

  • HT

    HT

  • 46 ' | Amadou Onana - Youri Tielemans

  • 46 ' | Thomas Meunier - Yannick Carrasco

  • 54 ' | Thomas Meunier

  • 56 ' | Amadou Onana

  • 58 ' | Ismaël Koné - Cyle Larin

  • 58 ' | David Junior Hoilett - Atiba Hutchinson

  • 62 ' | Leandro Trossard - Eden Hazard

  • 74 ' | Samuel Adekugbe - Richie Laryea

  • 78 ' | Lois Openda - Michy Batshuayi

  • 80 ' | Jonathan Osorio - Stephen Eustáquio

  • 80 ' | Liam Millar - Tajon Buchanan

  • 82 ' | Alphonso Davies

  • 83 ' | Alistair Johnston

  • FT

    FT

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Belgium

Match Report

Canada falls 1:0 to Belgium in opening match 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar
A 36-year wait finally came to end for Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team when they played Belgium for their opening game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. Despite leading in shot attempts, Canada lost 1:0 with the goal coming from Michy Batshuayi in the 44’ minute.
After starting the game on the front foot, Canada was awarded a penalty early on. Unfortunately, Alphonso Davies' strike from the spot was saved by Thibaut Courtois.
Canada had two more penalty shouts in the first half, when Axel Witsel stepped on Richie Layea's foot inside the penalty box and when Tajon Buchanan was taken down by a Belgium defender. Both challenges were deemed fair by the referee.
It was 20 minutes into the game when Belgium got their first chance. Prior to that, Canada had all the attacking play.
Alistair Johnston had one of the best chances of the match. He found himself in open space on the edge of the 18-yard box. He had an option to his right and an option to his left, but the defender took a powerful strike that tested Courtois, a test the Belgium keeper passed with a parried shot.
Moments later, Davies had split Eden Hazard and Youri Tielemans before playing a pass to Jonathan David for a give-and-go. Davies then laid off a pass for Atiba Hutchinson who took a strike that missed the target.
The second was more of the same from Canada, but the team ran out of steam and time. Canada was searching for that equalizing goal, which gave up space in their defensive-third for Belgium to hit on the counter-attack.
Attackers like Kevin De Bruyne and Batshuayi tried to take advantage of the extra space but were met by Canada’s back wall. Defender Kamal Miller pulled off multiple sliding tackles that stopped Belgium in its tracks. Steven Vitoria ventured forward and stepped up to take care of passes that beat the Canadian midfield. In one instance, Richie Laryea flew in with a hard slide tackle to Block a worrying Batshuyai's shot.
Canada’s defensive work wasn’t in total vain. It wasn't for the lack of chances that Canada lost the game, but for the lack of time. Substitute Cyle Larin had two chances toward the end of the match. His header in the 80’ minute was saved by Courtois, five minutes later Larin’s second header flew over the bar.
Canada will take their positive performance from their opening match of the tournament into their next match against Croatia on Sunday.
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Starting 11

Alistair Johnston
Alistair Johnston
Fullback
Kamal Miller
Kamal Miller
Centre back
Steven Vitória
Steven Vitória
Centre back
Stephen Eustáquio
Stephen Eustáquio
Midfielder
David Junior Hoilett
David Junior Hoilett
Forward
Tajon Buchanan
Tajon Buchanan
Forward
Atiba Hutchinson
Atiba Hutchinson
Midfielder
Milan Borjan
Milan Borjan
Goalkeeper
Alphonso Davies
Alphonso Davies
Forward
Jonathan David
Jonathan David
Forward
Richie Laryea
Richie Laryea
Midfielder

Subs

Samuel Adekugbe
Samuel Adekugbe
Fullback
Ismaël Koné
Ismaël Koné
Midfielder
Cyle Larin
Cyle Larin
Forward
Jonathan Osorio
Jonathan Osorio
Midfielder
Liam Millar
Liam Millar
Forward

Did Not Feature

Dayne St. Clair
Dayne St. Clair
Goalkeeper
Samuel Piette
Samuel Piette
Midfielder
Liam Fraser
Liam Fraser
Midfielder
Lucas Cavallini
Lucas Cavallini
Forward
Iké Ugbo
Iké Ugbo
Forward
Mark-Anthony Kaye
Mark-Anthony Kaye
Midfielder
James Pantemis
James Pantemis
Goalkeeper
David Wotherspoon
David Wotherspoon
Midfielder
Derek Cornelius
Derek Cornelius
Centre back
Joel Waterman
Joel Waterman
Centre back

Newsfeed

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | KO

Match started between Men's National Team and Belgium

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 44'

Belgium goal by Michy Batshuayi

0 - 1

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | HT

Halftime

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 46'

Belgium Substitution of Youri Tielemans by Player On

Youri Tielemans

Player On

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 46'

Belgium Substitution of Yannick Carrasco by Thomas Meunier

Yannick Carrasco

Thomas Meunier

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 9'

Belgium yellow card for Yannick Carrasco

Yannick Carrasco

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 54'

Belgium yellow card for Thomas Meunier

Thomas Meunier

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 56'

Belgium yellow card for Amadou Onana

Amadou Onana

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 58'

Men's National Team Substitution of Cyle Larin by Ismaël Koné

Cyle Larin

Ismaël Koné

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 58'

Men's National Team Substitution of Atiba Hutchinson by David Junior Hoilett

Atiba Hutchinson

David Junior Hoilett

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 62'

Belgium Substitution of Eden Hazard by Leandro Trossard

Eden Hazard

Leandro Trossard

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 74'

Men's National Team Substitution of Richie Laryea by Samuel Adekugbe

Richie Laryea

Samuel Adekugbe

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 78'

Belgium Substitution of Michy Batshuayi by Lois Openda

Michy Batshuayi

Lois Openda

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 80'

Men's National Team Substitution of Stephen Eustáquio by Jonathan Osorio

Stephen Eustáquio

Jonathan Osorio

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 80'

Men's National Team Substitution of Tajon Buchanan by Liam Millar

Tajon Buchanan

Liam Millar

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 82'

Men's National Team yellow card for Alphonso Davies

Alphonso Davies

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | 83'

Men's National Team yellow card for Alistair Johnston

Alistair Johnston

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Nov 23, 2022 | FT

Match ended, final score: 0 - 1

READ MORE POSTS +

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