Canada draws with Rwanda at the FIFA U-17 World Cup

Canada has been eliminated from the FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011 after a 0-0 draw with Rwanda. Canada needed a win on the rainsoaked pitch in Pachuca on 25 June, 2011 to have any chance to progress, but the Canadians were unable to break down their opponents from Africa.

In a quiet first half, Canada’s best chance came in the 31st minute. Samuel Piette took a free kick from the left flank and it found the head of Sadi Jalali. Jalali lowered his head to meet the ball but it was right at the goalkeeper.

Canadian goalkeeper Quillan Roberts was almost caught off his line with just under 10 minutes to go in the half. Mwesigwe Tibingana noticed the Canadian keeper perhaps a bit further up than he should have been and let fly from a good distance away but Roberts did well to backtrack and tip over.

Just under two minutes into the second half, Jalali did well to create himself a half-chance that tested his Rwandan opponents. Jalali made a run up the right side and, while holding off two defenders, got a shot on goal that was held by Marcel Nzarora, the Rwandan goalkeeper.

Rwanda put together a good attack on the right hand side in the 60th minute and Justin Mico went down under the challenge of Ismail Benomar. The Rwandan players appealed for a penalty but replays showed Benomar made a good, strong tackle.

Canada counter-attacked just two minutes later and a long ball found Jalali. After fending off two defenders, Jalali tried to put his shot across goal but his tough angle shot rolled across the goalmouth and went wide.

Chances were few and far between as both teams struggled to find any flow. The breakthrough almost came with just over 20 minutes left. A cross was played into an unmarked Eric Nsabimana but his shot just outside the 18-yard box went just over.

Rwanda looked the more likely to find a winner over the second half but Canada’s defence held strong and even created some chances of their own as the game came to its conclusion but were unable to find the goal that could have propelled them to the knockout stages.

Canadian coach Sean Fleming made one change to the starting XI from the England game. Quillan Roberts got his second start in a row with Adam Polakiewicz at left back, Ismail Benomar got his first start at centre back next to Luca Gasparotto with Parker Seymour at right back and Michael Petrasso, Samuel Piette, Bryce Alderson, Yassin Essa, Keven Aleman and Sadi Jalali from the midfield up through to the attack.

After making no substitutions in the first half, Canada replaced Petrasso with Christopher Nanco (59′), Jalali was replaced by Jay Chapman (70′) and Alderson was removed in favour of Sergio Camargo (82′).

Rwanadan coach Richard Tardy had a starting XI of Marcel Nzarora in goal, Jean Marie Rusingizandekwe at left back, Emery Bayisenge at centre back and Eugene Habyarimana at right back, with Heritier Turatsinze, Robert Ndatimana, Andrew Buteera, Mwesigye Tiginbana, Justin Mico and Eric Nsabimana from midfield up to the attack.

Rwanda made no changes in the first half but in the second, Mico was replaced by Farouk Ruhinda (68′), Kabanada was replaced by Alfred Mugabo (77′), and Tibingana was removed for Janvier Benedata (84′).

Canada has been eliminated from the FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011 after a 0:0 draw with Rwanda this 25 June. Canada needed a win on the rainsoaked pitch in Pachuca, but it was unable to break down the African opponent.

In a quiet first half, Canada’s best chance came in the 31st minute. Samuel Piette took a free kick from the left flank and the ball found the head of Sadi Jalali. Jalali lowered his head to meet the ball, but the ball sailed right at the goalkeeper.

Canadian goalkeeper Quillan Roberts was almost caught off his line with just under 10 minutes to go in the half. Mwesigwe Tibingana noticed the Canadian goalkeeper perhaps a bit further up than he should have been. Tibingana let fly a shot from a good distance, but Roberts did well to backtrack and tip the ball over the bar.

Just under two minutes into the second half, Jalali did well to create a half-chance that tested his Rwandan opponents. Jalali made a run up the right side and, while holding off two defenders, got a shot on goal that was held by Marcel Nzarora, the Rwandan goalkeeper.

Rwanda put together a good attack on the right hand side in the 60th minute. Justin Mico went down under the challenge of Ismail Benomar. The Rwandan players appealed for a penalty, but replays showed Benomar made a good, strong tackle.

Canada counter-attacked just two minutes later and a long ball found Jalali. After fending off two defenders, Jalali tried to put his shot across goal, but his tough angle shot rolled across the goalmouth and went wide.

Chances were few and far between as both teams struggled to find any flow. The breakthrough almost came with just over 20 minutes left. A cross was played into an unmarked Eric Nsabimana, but his shot just outside the 18-yard box went just over.

Rwanda looked the more likely to find a winner over the second half, but Canada’s defence held strong and even created some chances of its own. Canada was unable to record the goal that could have propelled the team into the knockout stages.

Canadian coach Sean Fleming made one change to the starting XI from the previous match. Quillan Roberts got his second start in a row with Adam Polakiewicz at left back, Ismail Benomar and Luca Gasparotto at centre back, Parker Seymour at right back, and Michael Petrasso, Samuel Piette, Bryce Alderson, Yassin Essa, Keven Aleman and Sadi Jalali from the midfield up through to the attack.

After making no substitutions in the first half, Canada replaced Petrasso with Christopher Nanco (59′), Jalali with Jay Chapman (70′) and Alderson with Sergio Camargo (82′).

Rwanadan coach Richard Tardy had a starting XI of Marcel Nzarora in goal, Jean Marie Rusingizandekwe at left back, Emery Bayisenge at centre back and Eugene Habyarimana at right back, with Heritier Turatsinze, Robert Ndatimana, Andrew Buteera, Mwesigye Tiginbana, Justin Mico and Eric Nsabimana from midfield up to the attack.

In the second half, Rwanda’s substitutions were Mico replaced by Farouk Ruhinda (68′), Kabanada replaced by Alfred Mugabo (77′), and Tibingana replaced by Janvier Benedata (84′).