Canada U-20 takes early lead in CONCACAF group

Canada won 2:1 over Guadeloupe in the opening match of the 2011 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship on Monday 28 March. The Canucks maintained greater possession throughout the match, but had to overcome an 0-1 deficit at half time to win three points and take an early lead in the group standings. Lucas Cavallini and Derrick Bassi scored the goals for Canada, both in the second half on assists by Russell Teibert.

"Good to start with a win as it builds confidence for the team," said Canadian U-20 coach Valerio Gazzola.

Canada got off to a decent start and carried the better part of possession, but Guadeloupe was decent with the ball in spells, too.

Canada’s best early chance was a Russell Teibert shot from within the box in the 14th minute. He fired it low and hard along the artificial turf, but goalkeeper Kévin Anselme got down and made the save, just trapping the ball under his arm from an outstretched position on the ground.

Anselme made another good save late in the first half after his team had gone up 1-0. On that play, Coulton Jackson fired a shot that Anselme saved and knocked against the post. Ironically, the referee called for a goal kick, missing the good save made by the Guadeloupe goalkeeper.

Guadeloupe found its hole in the Canadian defence in the 25th minute on a counter attack. Christophe Houelche fired a good shot into the goal for the first goal of the match.

Canada was rattled, but did not let up. Canada had spent much time in the Guadeloupe end in the first half, but could not connect on that last pass to score a goal. By the time Canada came off for the half time break, it needed to regroup to find the advantage it would soon take.

"We were more successful in the second half because we kept the ball for longer spells," said Gazzola.

Calmer after the restart, Canada went onto the attack and scored a pair of goals less than six minutes apart (Cavallini 53′ and Bassi 58′). Both goals came as a result of dangerous free kicks won just outside the Guadeloupe box.

On the first goal, an Andres Fresenga free kick was actually blocked by the Guadeloupe defender before the ball bounced back into Canadian possession. A pair of passes stretched Guadeloupe from right to left before Teibert drove the ball deep to the line and then in towards goal. Moving into the middle, he centered a pass to Cavallini who fired it in for Canada’s first goal of the match.

With the score tied 1-1 and Canada in control, Guadeloupe’s right back Mathieu Rhoda made a pair of fatal tackles that cost his team a point in the match. The second tackle was deemed unfair and Rhoda was assessed a yellow card, giving Canada a dangerous free kick just outside the box. Teibert delivered the kick and Bassi headed it home for the winning goal of the match.

After going up 2-1, Canada continued to create chances, but mostly just maintained possession and made Guadeloupe fight for the ball. In the 62nd minute, an excellent Canadian cross was headed just high by Fresenga. In the 73rd minute, an excellent Teibert shot whizzed just wide of the top left corner of the net.

In the victory, Canada’s starting XI featured Julien Latendresse-Lévesque in goal, Francesco Augustin at left back, Roger Thompson and Derrick Bassi at centre back, Andres Fresenga at right back, and Russell Teibert, Ethan Gage, Lucas Cavallini, Stefan Cebera, John Pegg and Coulton Jackson from the midfield up through to the attack.

In the second half, Canada’s three changes were Coulton Jackson off for Jonathon Osorio (46th minute), Fresenga off for Doneil Henry (79′) and Teibert off for Massimo Mirabelli (86′). Canada’s three yellow cards were shown to Thompson (41′), Gage (59′) and Teibert (85′).

Guadeloupe’s starting XI featured Kévin Anselme in goal, Pierrick Saint-Géraud at left back, Jérémie Valmy and Lewis Laporal at centre back, Mathieu Rocha at right back, Johan Angloma at left midfield, Christophe Houelche and Thomas Grava at centre back, Vladimir Pascal at right midfield, and both Jean-Marc Hatchi and Kévin Sainte-Luce playing wide and going forward.

Guadeloupe’s three changes in the second half were Grava off for Wilhelm Sévérin (46′), Sainte-Luce off for Rohann Rambojan (64′), and Angloma off for Neil Roche (79′). Guadeloupe was also assessed one yellow card in the match, that card to Rhoda (57′) that preceded Canada’s second goal.

Canada won three corner kicks in the first half and another three in the second half. Guadeloupe won just one corner in the match.

Guadeloupe’s players wore a black arm in honour of Jacques Rugard, the former president of the Ligue Guadeloupe de Football who passed away late last week.

Canada’s next match is this 1 April at the Estadio Cementos Progresso. On that day, Canada will face its other group opponent Costa Rica.