September 12, 2007 Men's National Team--Canada vs Costa Rica result (from Sportsnet)

Black Wednesday's silver lining
September 12, 2007

By Ryan Johnston, Sportsnet.ca

TORONTO -- Fans arrived singing songs of protest but left with a feeling of promise as Canada and Costa Rica played to an entertaining 1-1 draw on "Black Wednesday" at the National Soccer Stadium in Toronto.

Dubbed "Black Wednesday" in various soccer forums -- referring to the planned sea of black protest over the recent front-office shenanigans within the Canadian Soccer Association -- a sparse crowd of 9,325 showed up for the first home game for our men's national team in over seven years.

If the unwritten agreement was to protest by indifference, then the point was made.

But those who decided to show up and make a fashion statement sported all-black t-shirts with the slogan Support Our National Teams … SACK THE CSA! boldly screened in white across the back. Bisecting the two phrases was a brazen anti-smoking style logo with "CSA" exed-out in red. On the front of the shirts read Canada Soccer Deserves Better … SACK THE CSA! and the same aforementioned "anti" logo.

"The fans want to have a say, and we want to have a say as well," said Canada's Tomasz Radzinski. "Slowly it is changing, I think the last year it has been going in the right direction, but the guys feel it, but it is still a long way away."

Radzinski finished the impromptu post-match Q&A with a candid remark: "If I am in the stands next time I am going to wear a black shirt as well."

Front-office politics aside, the fans that did show up could not have asked for a better player representation. European stars Paul Stalteri (Tottenham), Julian De Guzman (Deportivo de La Coruna) and Atiba Hutchinson (FC Copenhagen) joined household names from the MLS like Dwayne De Rosario (Houston) and Jim Brennan (Toronto) to form one of the more potent Canadian squads in some time. Radzinski, who was without a club until Greek club Xanthi signed him at the transfer deadline, ended a one-year national team absence to play for head coach Dale Mitchell.

The ex-Fulham striker did not look out of place in his return, despite the layoff.

"We know today we can beat that team. Knowing that they have been in a World Cup it means we can take their place in the qualifiers for the next one," said Radzinski. "It is definitely something we can take away from this game and I am really glad that all 19 guys were here."

Canada last played their CONCACAF opponents at the Gold Cup in June of this year, using two goals from Julian De Guzman to seal a 2-1 Group A victory. Currently the two teams are separated by one spot in the FIFA rankings, with the Ticos edging out Canada at No. 52.

The feeling-out process of the first half failed to produce any real opportunity as both Canada and Costa Rica struggled to find a flow. The few highlights to come within the run of play came from De Guzman, who continues to show the pedigree which makes him a first-team selection in Spain's top domestic league.

Rarely straying far from De Guzman was De Rosario, who might have had the only palpable chance in the form of a 21st-minute free kick. The double-De pairing looked comfortable with the attacking style supporters saw under Stephan Hart (who is Mitchell's assistant) at the recent Gold Cup run.

"We (De Guzman and I) have a great understanding of each other and I think the way we play with each other is how people want to see Canada play," said De Rosario after the match. "The movement off the ball, the way we support each other, that is the way we are going to get success in qualifying."

On the halftime whistle Canada owned the possession arrow, but as has been so frequently recently at Toronto FC's home ground, the scoreboard read zeroes.

Just 45 seconds into the second half, Canada nearly opened the scoring account as Ali Gerba finished his solo effort with a quality shot on net, which goalkeeper Wardy Alfaro did well to parry just over the bar.

But as often is the case, a chance at one end produces another at the opposite. A quick pass to Victor Nunez allowed the striker to put his country up 1-0, beating Hirschfeld low to the far post.

Coach Mitchell lamented the quick strike after the match, feeling it was arguably the one point the Costa Rican team can take away from a match dominated by his team.

"I think that Costa Rica took advantage of maybe their only chance in the game," said Mitchell. "I am just a little disappointed that we did not get a win. We had half a dozen decent opportunities."

The restart created more drama as a second yellow on Randal Azofeifa for a late challenge on Radzinski put the Costa Ricans down a man at the 49-minute mark.

Then, in classic De Rosario fashion, the difference in numbers produced a stunning goal from the Canadian striker. A seeking, 30-yard cross from De Guzman found De Rosario inside the 18-yard box, who quickly chested the ball into his own path before rocketing a left-footed equalizer past a helpless Alfaro.

The patented "DeRo goal strut" celebration brought the west side stands to their feet.

"It is nice playing at home, and especially in Toronto," beamed De Rosario when asked about the goal. "I haven't played here (with the national team) in like seven years … it is a great environment."

Shortly after the goal Mitchell made a pair of quick substitutions, bringing on Leicester City forward Iain Hume and Heracles Almelo (Netherlands) striker Rob Friend.

In the 66th minute tempers flared when a clash behind the play between Adrian Serious and goal-scorer Nunez left the Costa Rican on the turf while the play continued upfield. A furious Herman Medford Bryan, the Ticos' head coach, called for a dismissal of the Canadian defender.

Overall, the emotion on the field Wednesday night was far from its friendly tag.

The Serioux-Nunez battle would continue until Medford Bryan substituted the fiery striker in the 83rd minute.

Despite being down a man, Costa Rica matched the Canadian attack until the final whistle signaled a stalemate between the CONCACAF countries.

The next match for the men's side is uncertain, but FIFA has an open international friendly date scheduled for Oct. 17, a date which coach Mitchell commented was not filled as of today. But he insists something will be lined up for the following FIFA date in November.

LINEUP:
CAN: Lars Hirschfeld; Adrian Serioux; Andre Hainault; Julian De Guzman; Paul Stalteri (C); Patrice bernier; Tomasz Radzinski; Ali Gerba; Jim Brennan; Atiba Hutchinson; Dwayne De Rosario

MAN OF THE MATCH: Dwayne De Rosario (Canada), Junior Diaz (Costa Rica)

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