Canada 1 - 0 Panama

Well folks, here we are – FIFA World Cup Qualification with a Canadian flavour. An impressive turnout at BMO Field was expected, but the resulting crowd was, without a doubt, one of the finest in the national team’s recent history. With a tricky, pacey Panama side playing test to Les Rouges, Canada continues their quest to qualify in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.



So, here it is: the good, the bad and the surprisingly beautiful, in Canada’s 1-0 win over Panama!

THE GOOD
The Game and Its Result:

Canada can take pride in their ability to control the game. With a solid midfield overpowering Panama’s, and a defensive line keeping the Panamanian strikers relatively quiet, Canada could push up and dictate the flow of the game. Three points is the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae, that’s for sure, and (ice cream pun incoming!) topping the group is a sweet pleasure for Canada.

Player Performance:
The Canadian national team seems to bring out the best in certain players, a statement no truer than with Will Johnson, and his stellar national team performances have continued. His midfield partner in crime, Atiba Hutchinson, is also worthy of note – Hutch’s distribution was spot on, his defensive work was akin to a younger Torsten Frings, and his runs forward threatened Panama’s backline repeatedly. Finally, Dwayne De Rosario gets accolades for his goal…

Noteworthy Moment of the Match:
…which earns our noteworthy moment of the match! De Rosario slipped in a cheeky, tricky pass, putting the game up 1-0. What a crazy goal that was! Not only does Dwayne De Rosario score on the night, but he’s now become the top Canadian goalscorer in history. Congratulations, Dwayne!

THE BAD
The Game and Its Result:

Canada’s flaw has always been their inability to take advantage of their chances. Numerous crosses found their way into the box, and Canada did come close, as usual, but putting these chances away with consistency is a skill that continues to elude this team. A cheeky goal aside, Canada struggled with their chances. They will need to be more accurate in their next game.

Player Performance:
Though Canada played valiantly, singling out particular players isn’t really a challenge – Olivier Occean held the ball up well but didn’t do much with the chances given to him. After his trade to FC Dallas, Julian de Guzman has adjusted to life away from Toronto FC but is still exhibiting the lack of pure strength in midfield that is sometimes required. David Edgar had a few gaffs on the ball as well. Still, faulting these players seems unfair, as the whole team connected well with each other, making up for the mistakes of individuals.

Noteworthy Moment of the Match:
A last-minute scuffle between the Canada bench and the Panama defenders said it all; the game was played in distaste throughout, with lots of fouls and rough tackles. Canada came out on top with their dominant physical display, matching every shove with a good ol’ body check of their own. Bravery, from Canada, was in abundance, yet it was still quite rough.

THE BEAUTIFUL!
BMO Field hasn’t rocked that hard in quite a few weeks now, but when Canada came down to play, Toronto responded in kind. With over 17,500 people at BMO Field, Canada vs. Panama will be seen as a plateau for the next level of fan support for Canada’s national team. The rousing rendition of “We’re going to Brazil!” came after a well-deserved win, and, honestly, Torontonians just needed a good game at home. For those traveling from Montreal and Vancouver, this game was just as thrilling an experience, but for Toronto FC fans, just seeing some quality football on home soil is enough to satiate starving appetites. 



Also, Canada’s women’s team getting the ovation they deserve brought a tear to my eye. Beautiful!