Canada come from behind to draw 2:2 away in Bahrain ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team drew 2:2 against Bahrain at the Al-Khalifa Stadium in Isa Town, Bahrain on Friday 11 November. The match is the first-ever international match between the two nations and Canada’s first of two international friendlies in November as Canada prepares for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

Ismaël Koné opened the scoring before the hosts equalised on a Mahdi Humaidan goal and then went ahead on a Abdulla Yusuf penalty. Canada fought back and equalised in the 81st minute on a Zachary Brault-Guillard cross that was initially redirected by Lucas Cavallini, but went off a Bahrain defender for the 2:2 own goal. Starting centre back Joel Waterman made his international “A” debut before substitute Lukas MacNaughton did the same in the second half. Koné scored his first international goal while Alistair Johnston equaled the Men’s National Team record by playing 27 consecutive international “A” matches. 

“The commitment has been brilliant,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “The players have really pushed hard behind the scenes on and off the pitch to make sure they could come into tonight at a condition where I think they could compete and they competed. I’m just happy that they grinded it out to get a result “

MATCH CENTRE & MATCH REPORT :https://canadasoccer.com/national-team-match-upcoming/?matchId=3261

Ahead of their opening group stage match at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ on 23 November against Belgium, Canada will travel to Dubai for a friendly match against Japan on Thursday 17 November 2022. The full squad for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will be announced on Sunday 13 November.

CANADA SOCCER’S MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team is the reigning Kings of Concacaf, having finished first overall in the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers from September 2021 to March 2022. It marked the third time that Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team won a Concacaf title, having previously won the 1985 Concacaf Championship and the 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup. Canada now looks forward to their second participation at the men’s FIFA World Cup with group matches against Belgium on 23 November, Croatia on 27 November, and Morocco on 1 December.

CAN 2 : 2 BHR
2022-11-11 Manama, Bahrain
OneSoccer ; Al-Khalifa Stadium att. 600
Referee / Arbitre : Jamali Abdullah (Gholoum Abbas, Alshemali Saoud, Ismail Habib)

Goals / Buts
CAN 6′ Ismaël Koné (right foot / pied droit) 1-0 (a.Kamal Miller)
BHR 13′ Mahdi Humaidan (left foot / pied gauche) 1-1 (a.Abdulla Yusuf)
BHR 65′ Abdulla Yusuf (PK right foot / PK pied droit) 1-2
CAN 81′ BHR own goal / but contre son camp 2-2 (o.g.)

CANADA – 1 GK Dayne St. Clair; 2 Alistair Johnston, 3 Raheem Edwards (12 Zachary Brault-Guillard 59′), 4 Kamal Miller (17 Lukas MacNaughton 70′), 5 Joel Waterman, 6 Samuel Piette capt (20 Ayo Akinola 70′), 9 Lucas Cavallini (11 Jayden Nelson 88′),13 Ismaël Koné, 14 Mark-Anthony Kaye (8 Liam Fraser 59′), 21 Jonathan Osorio, 22 Richie Laryea (7 Jacob Shaffelburg 88′). Coach / entraîneur John Herdman. Unused substitutes / substituts non utilisés: 16 GK James Pantemis, 18 GK Thomas Hasal; 15 Doneil Henry (injured), 19 Mathieu Choinière.

Gatorade Performance of the Match / Gatorade Performance du match:
Ismaël Koné