Canada draw Honduras 0-0 to advance to quarterfinals of 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Canada have reached the final eight of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup after a 0:0 draw with Honduras. Canada finished second in Group A with five points going undefeated with a win and two draws in the group phase.

MATCH CENTRE & PHOTOS : CANADA v HONDURAS

By finishing second in the group, Canada will travel to Phoenix for their quarter-final match on Thursday, July 20th. All eight quarter-finalists, including Canada’s opponent, to be confirmed with the close of the group phase on Sunday 16 July.

“The most important thing for us right now is us. If we play like we have up to now, we’re on to something. It’s more about us than the opponent,” said Men’s National Team Head Coach Octavio Zambrano. “I have seen improvements from game to game. The players are empowered by the knowledge that they can play with anyone on equal terms.”

“The players believe that we can win and that is a good thing for this young group.‎ We know anything is possible,” said Captain Patrice Bernier. “The first game was a big step forward and through the next ‎we can see that mentality shift in the group.”

All of Canada Soccer’s matches at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup are broadcast live on TSN and RDS, with additional #GoldCup2017 coverage available across all of Canada Soccer’s digital channels including Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube, and Facebook.

CANADA’S KEY MOMENTS:
From a free kick in the 22nd minute, Junior Hoilett’s cross was headed to the back post by Lucas Cavallini and fired on target by Marcel de Jong, however, the left-footed strike hit the post.

Late in the first half, Michael Petrasso, standing at the post on the corner, cleared a Honduran header off the goal line after it was headed past everyone and onto goal.

Steven Vitoria was able to knock away another goal line clearance in the 85th minute to keep the match even as injury time was lurking.

Canada was close again in the 72nd minute on a wonderful dipping Jonathan Osorio shot that nearly got under the bar, but the outstretched goalkeeper got a hand on it to tip it wide.

Goalkeeper Milan Borjan came up huge in the closing minutes of the match getting his hands to a shot off a corner kick that was destined to secure three points for Honduras.

CONCACAF GOLD CUP
Taking place every two years, the CONCACAF Gold Cup is the official national team championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Drawing large crowds and millions of television viewers from across the region, the Gold Cup is a celebration of soccer, sportsmanship, and culture.

Canada are two-time CONCACAF champions, having won the CONCACAF Championship in 1985 and the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2000. Since the first edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1991, Canada’s best finishes are first place in 2000 and semi-final finishes in 2002 and 2007.

CANADA IN TORONTO ON 2 SEPTEMBER
Following the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team will return to Toronto to face CONCACAF rivals Jamaica on Saturday 2 September. Tickets to the Men’s International Friendly match start as low as $20 (plus applicable fees) and can be purchased online via Ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 1.855.985.5000, or in person at the BMO Field Box Office. As the match takes place during the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), all match tickets include free admission to the CNE grounds on match day. The 2 September match kicks off at 19.00 ET with complete ticket details at migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io/tickets.