Canada completes play at XXVII Torneo COTIF

Canada’s men’s U-20 team completed group play at the XXVII Torneo COTIF in Alcúdia, Spain with a 1:1 draw against Equatorial Guinea. The two teams traded first half goals and were then unable to convert excellent opportunities to break the deadlock in the second half of the 80 minute match. With the draw Canada finished in third place in Group A.

"This team is a point where it needs to learn to win," said coach Valerio Gazzola. "It is not enough to create chances, we need to deliver the final result."

Gazzola made two changes to the Canadian starting line-up that featured in the 0:0 draw with Valencia on match day 2 of the tournament. Massimo Mirabelli replaced Jonathan Osario in midfield and Jerome Baker came in for Niall Cousens at the point of attack. Canada’s starting XI featured Jordan Santiago in goal, Ashtone Morgan at left back, Doneil Henry and Derrick Bassi at centre back, Roger Thompson at right back, Ethan Gage, Chris Suta and Mirarbelli from left to right at midfield, Nicholas Lindsay and Russell Teibert on the wings, and Baker up front.

Canada created the first scoring chance of the match as Baker did well to flick the ball into the path of his fellow Canadian attackers but Morgan was called back for offside.

Equatorial Guinea had started the match well and opened the scoring in the 12th minute. A deep cross to the Canadian back post was directed into the goal.

Teibert nearly pulled Canada back into the match immediately following the goal as his strong rush forced Equatorial Guinea to commit a foul just outside of its box. Gage’s resulting free kick was cleared from danger.

The positive Canadian response continued and the young Canucks were back on level terms in the 19th minute. This time Gage’s measured ball over the top found Mirabelli in space and he made no mistake striking his shot into the bottom right of the goal from close range.

As the half progressed Canada grew into the match and was unlucky to see a goal called back for offside in the 34th minute, as Mirabelli had the ball in the goal for a second time in the half.

Canada finished the half strongly earning two late corners with Henry having the best of the scoring opportunities sending his headed effort wide of the goal.

Canada started the second half quickly and nearly took its first lead of the match in the 44th minute following a good period of possession. Henry attempted to play a ball in to Baker but the Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper was able to just get a hand to it to with Baker in position to convert the chance.

The East Africans served notice that they were still dangerous on the counterattack as a 47th minute shot flew just wide of Canadian goalkeeper Santiago’s goal.

Active Canadian midfielder Gage nearly scored an impressive goal as he tried a shot from 40 yards out after spotting the Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper off his line but the shot sailed just high over the bar.

The pulsating second half action continued to swing from end-to-end as an Equatorial Guinea free kick from a dangerous position swerved around the post.

Coach Gazzola made four substitutions to the Canadian side in the second half. In the 50th minute Lindsay came off to be replaced by Jonathan Osorio on the wing, Suta was replaced by Niall Cousens in the 60th minute as Canada switched to a 4-4-2, Thompson was replaced by Marco Rodrigues for in the 68th minute, and the final substitution saw Baker come out for Mahir Hadiresic in the 79th minute. The substitution of removing defender Thompson for midfielder Rodrigues resulted in a second change of formation as Canada went with three defenders.

Canada continued to push forward in search of its second goal of the match and had several excellent opportunities within the space of five minutes. First, Cousens got in behind the defence but missed wide in the 69th minute. Four minutes later Rodrigues hit a hard strike on goal which was well stopped and Baker was called for offside on the rebound attempt. Teibert created another opening for Cousens but his header missed from close in.

In the 75th minute Equatorial Guinea counterattacked quickly and saw a quick shot beat Canadian goalkeeper Santiago but come back off the upright.

Canada’s man of the match was goal scorer Mirabelli.

The XXVII Torneo COTIF in Alcúdia, Spain is Canada’s men’s U-20 team’s second tournament of the 2010 season. The Canadian team is currently preparing for next year’s 2011 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship. That championship will serve as the qualification route for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011, which runs 29 July to 20 August of next year.