But these are just baby steps for the rebuilding national team. And sterner tests await this week in Edmonton from Ecuador and Iran at the Canada Cup.

Saturday's game against Guatemala, played in 27-degree temperatures and brilliant sunshine at Varsity Stadium, was essentially a game between two developmental teams.

Canada was missing five top players and its starting 11 included four members of the under-23 Olympic side. Osieck's starters had a combined 77 international appearances and three goals at the senior level, with midfielder Nick Dasovic (35) and goalkeeper Pat Onstad (14) accounting for 49 of those caps.

Guatemala, which brought only five senior players and seven Olympic team members, showed individual ball skills but the display usually ended with a bigger Canadian bundling a Guatemalan out of the way.

Guatemalan midfielder Edgar Valencia showed flashes of brilliance. In one sequence, he casually flicked two backheel passes between cradling the ball on top of his foot while surrounded by Canadians. Striker Carlos Ruiz and substitute Fredy Garcia also proved dangerous.

But they were unable to break through a tenacious Canadian defence, anchored by elegant sweeper Tony Menezes.

Down 1-0 after just five minuutes thanks to Davide Xausa's first goal at the senior level, the Guatemalans ran out of patience as the second half wound down.

After Jason deVos and Nick Dasovic sandwiched Ruiz and sent him flying, Julio Giron responded by firing the ball at the midsection of the six-foot-four deVos.

deVos was in the thick of it again after defender German Ruano was sent off for scything Garret Kusch to the ground with three minutes remaining. When deVos got in Ruano's face in the ensuing melee, the Guatemalan spat in his.

As the game went into injury time, Erick Miranda was ejected for slapping Kusch in the face off the ball. Later Kusch admitted he was somewhat theatrical in his reaction, noting by way of explanation that he knew the linesman was watching and that the Guatemalan defender had already kicked and kneed him.

The Canadians showed admirable restraint, although they were less reticent among themselves. The Canadian body language was anything but exemplary at times, with hands going up in frustration and heads bowing after poor passes or missed opportunities.

Questioned after the game, Osieck called it communication between players. It looked like griping, however.

Canada was certainly guilty of giving the ball away too many times.

The Canadians enjoyed their best stretch in the first five minutes and the middle of the second half, when they controlled possession and threatened up front.

The Canadian performance was anchored by a solid backline with Menezes flanked by deVos and Paul Fenwick.

Marc Bircham and Xausa were tireless in the middle with Dasovic playing an understated but generally effective short-passing game. Jim Brennan showed speed on the left wing but his counterpart on the right, Jeff Clarke, had an off day and was pulled at the half.

Up front, Kusch and Paul Stalteri are beginning to develop a promising rapport. Stalteri, with his speed and slashing runs, is the scalpel while Kusch, a powerful presence in the air, is the blunt instrument. Together, they can punish a defence.

While the Canadians started in Osieck's preferred 3-5-2 formation, they attacked and defended in numbers.

Xausa's goal was started by Stalteri, who took the ball off a Guatemalan in midfield to trigger the break.

The two teams meet again Wednesday in Edmonton.