July 7, 2006 U-20 International Friendly Canada vs USA (from Ontario Soccer Web)

USA Defeats Canada in U20 Friendly
July 8, 2006

(Lino Terra, Ontario Soccer Web) - 5,325 fans got a taste of U20 soccer at the Rogers Centre Friday night, where the Canadian National Men’s Youth teams played the United States in a friendly. The Americans held off a furious late rally by Canada to defeat the home side 2-1.

A variety of factors, including a noticeable lack of promotion in the local media meant that only a small number of dedicated Canadian soccer fans made the trip downtown to watch our boys in action. The game was the first of a two game series with the Americans that concludes Sunday in Kingston.

A flash of inexperience and a brilliant strike gave the Americans the lead in the 31st minute. Canadian defender Stefan did well to dispossess Robbie Rogers of the U.S. on a dangerous run but was slow in transition and was caught in possession by a back-tracking Rogers. Rogers stole the ball at the top of the penalty area and curled a powerful shot past GK David Monsalve high into the far corner.

The second American goal was a result of more sloppy play. Josmer Altidore somehow found himself alone behind the Canadian defence and took advantage by placing his rebound into an open net after the Canadian keeper went to ground to stop Altidore’s first attempt.

The Canadians did not create any sustained pressure in a first half that was played predominantly in the middle third. The US held most of the possession as the Canadians seemed content to play with ten men behind the ball and hope for turnovers to initiate counterattacks.

The game was played with the roof open and on the stadium’s new artificial turf. The field looked good (no football lines!) but the surface seemed to play a lot harder that natural grass. The teams found it difficult to keep the ball on the ground and under control.

Canada started more positively in the second frame as halftime substitutes Shane Lammie and AJ Gray came on as a striking duo while Di Ioia moved into an attacking midfield role.

Another positive note was that the Canadian fullbacks were not afraid to make Cafu-like runs down the wing. Kennedy Owusu-Ansah was especially dangerous on a few occasions.

An own-goal by the US with 10 minutes to go gave the Canadians some life in the closing minutes. Substitute AJ Gray drove wide to the touchline and unleashed a powerful cross that was inadvertently directed past the keeper by US defender Julian Valentin.

It was the Americans turn to play with a packed defence in the closing minutes and while the Canadians came close on a few occasions, were unable to break through for the equalizer.

This friendly was a useful exercise for Dale Mitchell as he was able to see a fair number of players in different situations. The first half was played in a defensive ‘holding’ mindset with bodies behind the ball pressuring in the midfield. Although it did not work out on this occasion – both US goals came against this setup - it is likely the Canadians will have to play this style for long stretches next summer against some of the tougher opposition or when holding a lead late in the game.

In the second half, Mitchell opened it up a bit more and adding more attacking players to allow Canada to press the Americans deep in their half. It paid off with about a half-dozen good chances, including Canada’s only goal.

Both teams will now travel to Kingston, ON where they will meet again on July 9th at Richardson Stadium at 7pm.

Web Notes: An OSA presences was notably by its absence – no sight of the new PlaySoccer ‘travelling road show’…Nine players on the Canadian roster were listed with a National Training Centre as their club. Are these players really not getting any meaningful competition, or is the CSA purposely neglecting the impact of youth soccer on the development of these players? Either way, something should change…I have been a proponent of fieldturf since I saw it first hand at the OSA centre, however the turf at Rogers Centres did NOT play like the real stuff. I hope our new stadium gets something better.

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