Fourteen Soccer matches in 14 days for Canada

It has been 36 years since Canada last played on Hallowe’en – an international friendly match as part of an Eastern European tour for Canada’s men’s national team. This year, Canada’s national teams have two matches on Hallowe’en 2010: the men’s U-17 team in Montego Bay, Jamaica and the women’s national team in Cancún, Mexico. Actually, it has been a busy two weeks for all of Canada’s national teams. There have been 14 matches in 14 days from 18 October to 31 October.

This year, Canada has operated 11 national teams featuring 333 different players. By year’s end, Canada will have participated in more than 100 matches from FIFA & CONCACAF tournaments, international friendly matches, and exhibition matches. Highlights include victories at the 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup and 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship as well as participation in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Canada has also participated in important international friendly matches against two-time world champions – the men against Argentina and the women against Germany.

Canada’s 11 national teams in 2010 are the men’s national team, the men’s U-23/Olympic team, the men’s U-20 team, the men’s U-17 team, men’s U-15 team, the Para Soccer team, the women’s national team, the women’s U-20 team, the women’s U-18 team, women’s U-17 team, and the women’s U-15 team.

Canada defeats host Jamaiaca in men’s U-17 international match

Canada’s men’s U-17 team beat Jamaica 4:2 on Sunday 31 October in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The win marked Canada’s second consecutive international success following a win over USA three days earlier.

Montréal’s Marco Lapenna opened the scoring in the 28th minute to give Canada a 1-0 lead. Keven Aleman doubled the lead in the 33rd minute only to have Jamaica cut the lead to 2-1 two minutes later. Toronto FC Academy product Aleman restored the two goal advantage with his second of the match five minutes before halftime.

In the second half Jay Chapman put Canada up by three goals with his 58th minute goal. Jamaica scored on an 82 minute penalty but it was too little too late for the hosts.

Canadian head coach Sean Fleming’s starting XI for the match against Jamaica featured Quillan Roberts (goalkeeper), Parker Seymour, Marco Lapenna, Daniel Stanese, Ismaïl Benomar, Omari Morris, Matteo Pasquotti, Bryce Alderson, Christopher Nanco, Kevin Aleman, and Jay Chapman. Second half substitutions made by Coach Fleming were; Morris replaced by Wesley Cain (60), Seymour replaced by Samuel Piette (61), Alderson replaced by Ryan James (69), Benomar replaced by Luca Gasparotto (75), Chapman replaced by Sadi Jalali (80), Lapenna replaced by Adam Polakiewcz (80).

Canada and Jamaica will face off again in two days time as Canada wraps up its 12 day camp held in USA and Jamaica. As part of its two camps Canada will have played four valuable international matches.

Canada is preparing for the 2011 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship which runs 14-28 February in Jamaica. The championship will feature 12 teams with the top four qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011.