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Posted by
Steve Bottjer,
October 15, 2014 |
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Steve Bottjer
On Twitter:
@BottjerRNO
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While Colombia and Canada went into their International friendly on Tuesday ranked 3rd and 120th in the FIFA world rankings respectively, the gulf between the sides was ultimately much closer on the pitch during a match that many Canadian National Team Supporters had approached with some trepidation heading in.
Canadian National Team Head Coach Benito Floro went with a veteran starting lineup on a day in which he was missing players such as Atiba Hutchinson, Dwayne De Rosario, Simeon Jackson and Dejan Jakovic. National team veteran Julian de Guzman earned his 70th cap and wore the captain’s armband against Colombia.
The Opening 45
Canada came close to opening the scoring very early in this game when Issey Nakajima-Farran delivered a fine pass in the 4th minute to Tosaint Ricketts, who appeared to be fouled in the Colombia penalty area. However, the referee did not award a penalty kick.
Colombia would come to dominate possession as the half progressed, with Canada at the time bending but not breaking amid the Colombian onslaught.
In the 23rd minute, Canadian fullback Marcel de Jong delivered a cross into the box that hit the hand of a Colombian player, who pretended that the ball had hit his face instead. Once again, the referee elected not award a penalty kick as Canada were hard done by once again.
Outside of the missed penalty calls, Colombia has the best chance to open the scoring in the 40th minute when James Rodríguez delivered a free kick that a diving Milan Borjan saved to prevent what looked like a sure goal.
The Second Half
The second half would continue in a similar vein to the first, with Colombia looking the more dangerous side, but with Canada defending resolutely and very much looking organized and poised.
Colombia had an excellent chance to open the scoring on the counter attack in the 66th minute when James Rodríguez saw his shot said just wide of the post.
Canada did a better job of pushing forward and retaining possession as the half progressed, but generally the Canadian attackers found themselves outnumbered by the Colombians in the final third as the Canadian team continued to be measured in terms of pushing numbers forward.
Colombia would score the only goal of the game in the 75th minute when they took a quick free kick and Rodríguez unleashed a world class shot past a helpless Borjan.
Both teams made a number of substitutions down the stretch, with neither side able to engineer another goal and Colombia ultimately pulling out a victory in a match that they had probably not expected was going to be as close as it was.
While this one will go into the record books as a defeat, it was still a very positive performance from Canada against a top three side. The Canadian could have very easily have come away with a draw or even a victory had the referee awarded a couple of penalty kicks in the first half. The manner in which Canada played this match while missing a number of their first choice players was genuinely impressive. While Colombia had more of the ball and looked more dangerous overall, Canada played football in this game and were legitimately in this game while also generally sticking to the same general principles and tactics that Floro had them utilize against a less accomplished Jamaica side last month.
There were many positives that Canada and Floro can take from this match as they build to their next test in an away match in Central America against Panama next month.
Man of the Match
Milan Borjan
For the second straight match, keeper Milan Borjan delivered a solid performance between the sticks. In addition to a fantastic diving save on a free kick from James Rodríguez, the Canadian shot stopper was solid in all facets of his game. Football can be a cruel game, as Borjan could have come out of this one with a clean sheet against one of the top teams in the world.
Honourable mention
While Borjan gets the Man of the Match honours, this was really a complete team performance in which pretty much Canada’s entire starting eleven impressed and worked together to hold a fantastic Colombian side at bay for ninety minutes while preventing them from scoring from open play.
In terms of further standouts, Julian de Guzman delivered an intelligent and solid ninety minutes that was all the more remarkable for the fact that he has been without a club team for the last several months. Fellow midfielder Pedro Pacheco also delivered a quality performance in place of the absent Atiba Hutchinson.
On the back line, both David Edgar, Andre Hainault were excellent while delivering composed defensive performances in a match in which they were constantly under pressure from the Colombian attack. Right back Doneil Henry also delivers special mention for doing an excellent defensive job while going toe to toe against the handful that is Juan Cuadrado. Up front, Tosaint Ricketts had a fine game while playing as an often very lone striker. He was hard done by not to have earned a penalty call or two for his efforts.
Canada Line-up
Milan Borjan
Doneil Henry
David Edgar
Andre Hainault
Marcel de Jong
Adam Straith
Julian de Guzman
Issey Nakajima-Farran
Pedro Pacheco
Nik Ledgerwood
Tosaint Ricketts
Substitutions: Marcus Haber for Nik Ledgerwood (46); Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare for Pedro Pacheco (68); Karl Ouimette for Marcel de Jong (79); Cyle Larin for Tosaint Ricketts (82); Manny Aparicio for Issey Nakajima-Farran (90); Jordan Hamilton for Adam Straith (90).
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