May 12, 2007 Canada vs Argentina U20s result (from Toronto Star)
Spunky Canada loses friendly
Fleet Argentina squad delights big crowd
May 12, 2007 04:30 AM
MORGAN CAMPBELL
SPORTS REPORTER
Facing Argentina's B team, Canada's U-20 national squad displayed its A game.
At least for 45 minutes.
Less than two minutes before the end of last night's exhibition match, Argentina's Gabriel Mercado headed the ball just past Canadian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic's fingertips, giving Argentina a 2-1 win in the first-ever night game at BMO Field.
Canada kicked off against an Argentine team composed mostly of reserves. Star player Ever Banega stayed home, as did 5-foot-3 midfield standout Maximiliano Moralez.
None of that mattered to the 20,055 spectators who showed up last night, at least half of them in Argentine baby-blue-and-white.
And it didn't matter to the Argentine players on the field, who parlayed crisp passing and quick attacks into a 1-0 lead early in the first half.
Drum-toting Argentine fans provided the backbeat to the game, and they banged even louder after forward Alejandro Gomez lofted a 20-yard shot past Canadian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
"Our players don't come up against teams that can cause problems the way Argentina does," Mitchell said after the game. "They play at a tempo they control. They can slow it down but when they want to turn it on they look for those players when they get behind you."
Then Jaime Peters started playing, and Canada showed glimpses of the form that makes Mitchell think they can reach the World Cup quarter-finals in July.
Midfielders Peters and fellow midfielder Simeon Jackson repeatedly ran past Argentine defenders, creating chances they couldn't convert into goals.
"(Peters) is really fast and his dribbling is outstanding," said Argentine midfielder Matias Sanchez. "You have to take care of that guy."
Peters and defender David Edgar soon combined to tie the game. As Peters' pinpoint crossing pass arced in front of the Argentine goal, Jackson leapt to head it, but a defender shoved him from behind. The referee called for a penalty kick, and Edgar stepped in and drove it into the lower right corner.
The play elated Canada's fans, but at times last night it was tough to tell which was the home team. When Canada's Kent O'Connor sent an Argentine player sprawling after a midfield collision, the whole crowd booed – Argentine fans for the perceived foul and Canada's fans for the perceived flop.
Canada will play an exhibition match against the U.S. in Ottawa on June 3 and again in Kingston on June 6. They'll play one more friendly against the Czech Republic in Edmonton, then return to Toronto to prepare for a Canada Day game against Chile in the World Cup.
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