This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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Canada stole three points from hostile terrain by defeating Cuba 1:0 at Estadio Pedro Marrero in Havana, Cuba to open play in CONCACAF 3rd Round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Qualifiers.
Olivier Occean scored the winner for Canada in the 54th minute after he latched onto a cross from David Edgar and buried a header to the top right corner from 10 yards out.
Canada survived the final half-hour despite going down to 10 men following Lars Hirschfeld being sent off, after he was judged to have handled the ball outside of the 18-yard-box as Cuba were breaking forward.
The 8 June 2012 win marks Canada’s first victory in CONCACAF 3rd Round since a successful trip to Guatemala in 2004. It also marks the first time that Canada has opened with a victory in CONCACAF 3rd Round since 1996.
Dwayne De Rosario had the first genuine chance of the match with a well-hit low effort from the left in the 23rd minute, but his effort was parried away by Cuban goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper.
Cuba went close next with a shot from the top of the 18-yard-box, but Canadian goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld made a diving save to tip it around the bar.
De Rosario then hit the bar with an effort from close range on the final play of the first half.
After exchanging chances early in the second half, it was Canada who eventually found the breakthrough in the 54th minute.
Some strong build-up play by the Canadians led to David Edgar receiving the ball in an advanced position on the right flank. Edgar cut inside and drifted a cross into the box with the outside of his right foot. Olivier Occean was on the spot for Canada to power home the header and give his team the 1-0 lead.
Only minutes later, however, Hirschfeld received a red card after he raced out to the edge of the area and was judged to have handled the ball just outside of the box. Hirschfeld was sent off because the Cuban player was deemed to have been clear through on goal – had the Canadian goalkeeper not handled illegally.
Despite being down a man, Canada limited genuine chances for the Cubans and never looked in clear danger of surrendering an equalizer.
De Rosario nearly sealed off the victory with a second goal, but his shot from close range was deflected over the bar in the 88th minute.
Canada would hang on from there to claim a hard-fought away victory of open CONCACAF 3rd Round of its 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualifying campaign.
Canada started the match with Lars Hirschfeld in goal and a back-line of David Edgar, André Hainault, Kevin McKenna and Ante Jazic from right-to-left. The rest of the team from midfield to attack featured Juian de Guzman, Will Johnson, Nik Ledgerwood, Tosaint Ricketts, Dwayne De Rosario and Olivier Occean.
In the second half, head coach Stephen Hart was forced to replace Ricketts with Milan Borjan (65’), who replaced the ejected Hirschfeld. Hart also replaced de Guzman with Atiba Hutchinson (68’) and Occean with Simeon Jackson (81’).
Cuba’s starting XI featured Odisnel Cooper in goal, Aliñáis Urgellés at right back, Yenier Márquez and Reysander Fernández at centre back, Yoel Colomé at left back, Carlos Francisco as a defensive midfielder, Ariel Martínez, Marcel Hernández and Alberto Gómez from right to left at midfield, Alaín Cervantes in front of the midfield, and Dalaín Aira at the top.
In the second half, coach Alexander Gonzáles Garces replaced Gómez with Adonis Ramos (75′), Aira with Roberto Linares (79′) and Urgellés with Jorge Luis Corrales (81′).
Along with the Hirschfeld ejection, Canadians Jazic and Johnson were both cautioned.
For Occean, it was his fourth goal of this FIFA World Cup Qualifiers cycle. He now has six career goals at the international “A” level. Midfielder Johnson, meanwhile, was selected Canada’s player of the match.
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