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Result and details of the Friday September 4, 2015 World Cup Qualifier between Canada and Belize played at BMO Field in Toronto at 7:30pm. This was the first leg of the two game series.

Canada (all red, white names and numbers)

......................22 Kenny Stamatopoulos
2 Nik Ledgerwood...5 David Edgar...4 Adam Straith...17 Marcel De Jong
...........8 Will Johnson...13 Atiba Hutchinson...6 Julian de Guzman (cpt)
...........11 Issey Nakajima-Farran...9 Tosaint Ricketts...21 Cyle Larin

Subs:...1 Maxime Crepeau (gk)...18 Milan Borjan (gk)...3 Samuel Adekugbe...7 Russell Teibert...10 Marcus Haber
...12 Luca Gasparotto...14 Samuel Piette...15 Manjrekar James...16 Micahel Petrasso...19 Kyle Bekker
...20 Karl W Ouimette...23 Tesho Akindele
team officials:...head coach Benito Floro

Belize (all blue, white numbers)

......................1 Woodrow West
8 Elroy Smith (cpt)...3 Trevor Lennen...13 Dalton Eiley...4 Evral Trapp
..........18 Denmark Jr Casey...14 Andres Makin...11 Jarret Davis
..........20 Daniel Jimenez...9 Deon Mccaulay...10 Harrison Roches

Subs:...2 Keith Allen (gk)...22 Shane Osburn-Orio (gk)...5 Highking Roberts...6 Evan Mariano...7 Ian Gaynair
...19 Marion Meza...12 Jessie Smith...15 Khalil Velasquez...16 Jordy Polanco...17 Gabriel Perez
...21 Nana-Yaw Amanikwah-Mensah...23 Devon Makin
team officials:...head coach Jorge Nunez

Game officials:...referee John Pitti...assistant referees Daniel Williamson and Ronald Antonio Bruna...fourth official Ariael Sanchez
...(all from Panama)...(yellow shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...games starts 7:38pm...Canada defends south end. The weather is hot but cooling.
1 min...Can De Jong cross from near left cornerflag is over players in box and bounced out right side.
2 min...Bel defenders check ball off Can Larin on right end line.
2 min...Can Nakajima-Farran crosses from left but Can Larin can't get away 15 yard shot.
3 min...Can Ledgerwood 30 yard shot up middle rolls through players wide left of net.
5 min...Can Johnson shoots 16 yarder down middle over net after receiving low centering pass from Can Ledgerwood.
8 min...Can De Jong cross from 30 yards on left has goalie catch in front of Can Larin at 8 yards.
8 min...Can Larin 22 yard shot down middle is high and wide right of net.
9 min...Can Ledgerwood high cross from 25 yards on right drops for Nakajima-Farran on left side of box and he chests ball down and steps around one defender and has 15 yard shot from left blocked by another defender.
10 min...Can Ledgerwood high cross from 30 yards on right has Can Nakajima-Farran leap and head from 10 yards on left across box and Can Larin at 8 yards up middle chests ball away from net and Can Johnson low screen shot from 20 yards up middle is saved by goalie and defender clears rebound.
12 min...Can de Guzman is injured away from play and needs trainer.
13 min...Can sub:...Piette replaces injured de Guzman. Hutchinson becomes captain.
16 min...Can Hutchinson pass to Can Ricketts who wins cornerkick on left 12 yard shot that's deflected off defender.
16 min...Can Johnson short cornerkick from right to Can Ledgerwood and sends it back to Johnson whose cross into box has charging Can Larin at 6 yards on left post hip ball into 6 yard box and defender boots it away.
17 min...Can Nakajima-Farran cross from left has goalie catch and hold on bump by own defender.
17 min...Can Nakajima-Farran on left on give and go with Can Larin in middle has Nakajima-Farran shoot 15 yarder wide left of net.
19 min...Can De Jong cross from near left cornerflag has defenders clear from box.
20 min...Bel goalie is timewasting already by his slowness picking up the ball!
22 min...Can Nakajima-Farran is injured on head bang with Bel Jimenez and Can wins freekick.
22 min...Can De Jong 45 yard cross from left has defender head ball away on edge of box.
24 min...Canada Tosaint Ricketts GOAL...Can Marcel De Jong rolls ball forward on left from 35 yard line to Can Issey Nakajima-Farran who continues down left and stops at 15 yard line and backheels ball forward to charging De Jong who crosses in from 20 yards on left end line after almost losing it. Can Cyle Larin leaps and heads ball from 8 yards up middle that flying goalie Woodrow West knocks down. Can Samuel Piette jabs at ball at 3 yards and ball is blocked by prone goalie. Goalie falls to smother it but Can Ricketts gets leg around protecting Belize defender Trevor Lennen to jab 1 yard shot over line into right side of net.
27 min...Can Edgar cross from 30 yards on right is wide left of net.
28 min...Can Johnson 30 yard shot from left is deflected off defender at 25 yards and pops up but cleared from 15 yards in box by another defender.
29 min...Can Larin has ball bounce off him at 10 yards on 30 yard cross from Can Ledgerwood on right and he can't get away shot.
29 min...Can De Jong cross from 25 yards on left has goalie catch in front of Can Larin at 6 yards.
30 min...Can Ledgerwood cross from 25 yards on far right has Can Nakajima-Farran at 10 yards on left head ball across box and goalie punches ball away in collision with Can Larin. Bel goalie is hurt in collision and is down two minutes.
35 min...Can Ricketts heads ball well over net from 12 yards when he receives cross from Can Ledgerwood at 22 yards on right.
36 min...Can De Jong cross from 25 yards on left has Can Larin head ball wide right from 8 yards with defender shadowing him.
37 min...Can De Jong throw-in from left near cornerflag has Can Larin not able to control it on left end line and deflects for goalkick.
40 min...Can Nakajima-Farran cross from 22 yards on far left has Can Larin leap but not able to turn header at 8 yards on right.
41 min...Can Hutchinson rolls pass forward down right and Can Ledgerwood steps over sliding player and sends low cross from 15 yards between players and defender clears from 12 yards while even with left post.
42 min...Can Johnson checked off ball at 15 yards on left by sliding tackle.
42 min...Can Larin held up on run until surrounded and rolls weak 25 yard shot that goalie picks up rather than pass.
43 min...Can Nakajima-Farran receives low cross from right and his one-touch shot from 22 yards rolls to goalie.
44 min...Can Johnson cornerkick from left has Can Larin not able to connect on shot at 6 yards and ball deflects away from box.
45 min...Can Edgar 25 yard shot up middle is high and wide right of net.
46 min...Bel McCaulay rush down right and pushes 28 yard ball well wide left instead of passing.
47 min...half ends 8:25pm.

2nd Half:...starts 8:41pm.
45 min...Can Ledgerwood cross from 40 yards on right has leaping Can Nakajima-Farran not able to turn header on edge of box up middle.
46 min...Can Hutchinson rush to left end line and rolls pass to Can Nakajima-Farran at 8 yards who rolls weak shot to goalie.
47 min...Can Johnson cross from 55 yards on right has Can Nakajima-Farran tee up for mid air 15 yard shot down middle and over net.
50 min...Can Ledgerwood cross from 22 yards on right has Can Nakajima-Farran shoot low 15 yarder wide right of net.
51 min...Can De Jong rush for ball to left end line and can't get cross to stay in play.
52 min...Can Johnson run up middle and rolls pass forward and to left for Can Nakajima-Farran who tries cross from 15 yards on left that's blocked and cleared by defender.
52 min...Bel Smith freekick from center line on right is just over leaping players on edge of box and ball bounces to Can goalie wide left of net.
54 min...Can Ricketts cross from near right cornerflag is just over leaping Can Larin who can't turn header at 12 yards up middle.
54 min...Bel Jimenez is prevented from getting shot away on right side of box by Can De Jong.
55 min...Can De Jong 28 yard freekick from left is short to charging Can Nakajima-Farran who crosses from 12 yards on left that defender in middle heads away. Can De Jong on left then takes 25 yard shot just over net.
57 min...Can Larin in 1 on 1 with defender on right pushes ball over end line.
57 min...Can De Jong cross from 30 yards on left has Can Larin and defender leaps and play is whistled down in Bel's favour although Can Larin couldn't turn header.
58 min...Bel sub...Devon Makin replaces Andres Makin...(Devon is the older brother of Andres)
61 min...Bel Trapp wins freekick on push by Can Edgar over clearing near Bel right cornerflag and needs trainer for injury.
64 min...Canada Tosaint Ricketts GOAL...Can Nik Ledgerwood crosses in from 28 yards on right around jumping Belize Keith Alllen at 20 yards. Can Will Johnson misses low diving header at 6 yards on right side but Ricketts is behind him to tip in 6 yarder with kick from even with right post into left side of net.
64 min...Can sub...Haber replaces Larin.
65 min...Bel sub...Velasquez replaces still injured Trapp.
66 min...Can Ledgerwood low cross from 20 yard from right is cleared from box by defender.
66 min...Can Nakajima-Farran 18 yard shot up middle hits Can Ricketts at 10 yards and deflects out of box.
68 min...Can Ledgerwood cross from 22 yards near right end line is into outside webbing of net.
69 min...Can Edgar low 30 yard screen shot up middle is smothered by goalie.
70 min...Can Hutchinson 50 yard chip from left has Bel goalie catch behind Can Ricketts at 10 yards.
71 min...Bel sub...Amankwah-Mensah replaces Roches.
73 min...Can Ledgerwood cross from 20 yard line near right sideline has Can Haber at 7 yards head ball back out of box.
74 min...Bel Smith 55 yard freekick from left has Can Hutchinson head ball away in crowd of players on edge of box.
76 min...Can Johnson dribbles by two guys but is blocked at 15 yards and wins throw-in on deflection.
77 min...Can YELLOW card...Ricketts earns it for tripping Bel Casey at Can 50 yard line.
78 min...Bel Smith 55 yard freekick from left has defenders clear ball when Bel Amankwah-Mensah knocks ball back at 12 yards and is injured on play.
79 min...Can Nakajima-Farran receives pass from right and has 16 yard shot down middle blocked by defender.
80 min...Can Ledgerwood runs down right wing and rolls 20 yard shot from right that goalie smothers.
81 min...Can De Jong low cross from 15 yards on left wins cornerkick on defenders clearance.
82 min...Can sub...Teibert replaces Ricketts.
82 min...Can Johnson cornerkick from left to Can Nakajima-Farran and they mess up play being called offside for about the first time in the game.
84 min...Can Edgar cross from 22 yards on right has defender pop up header over top left corner of net for cornerkick.
85 min...Can Johnson cornerkick from left is eventually whistled down in Bel box.
86 min...Can Nakajima-Farran wins cornerkick on deflection of his low 20 yard cross from left.
87 min...Can Johnson cornerkick from left has goalie step forward and punch ball away at 7 yards up middle.
88 min...Can Teibert nutmegs defender on right edge of box but another defender clears ball for cornerkick. Bel Davis is injured on play.
89 min...Can Johnson cornerkick from right is whistled down for pushing in box.
There are red smoke cannisters lit by Canadian supporters in the south end blowing away in the strong wind.
90 min...Can Nakajima-Farran crosses from 20 yards on left back to Can Johnson shoots 18 yarder down middle that goalie palms over net.
90 min...Canada Atiba Hutchinson GOAL...Can Russell Teibert rolls cross from 15 yards on right along 6 yard box and David Edgar covered by Belize Highking Roberts on right post lets ball go past him and Hutchinson charging forward in center of box jabs in 4 yarder with goalie trapped on right post.
92 min...Can De Jong cross from 28 yards on left has Bel goalie catch in front of Can Haber at 7 yards on right post.
93 min...Can Ledgerwood clears low cross that's rolled through Can box.
94 min...game ends 9:30pm.

Final Score:.....Canada.....3.......Belize.......0

Attendance was announced as 10412. Now that is just plain bad! Promoters were so desparate in the last week that they offered 2 for 1 tickets. With the Canadian National Exhibition taking place on the surrounding grounds I'd think there'd be a run on tickets by people beating the $18 admission price to the CNE and then not showing up for the soccer game. The Gold Cup game drew 16000+ but that included opponents Costa Rica and another game between Jamaica and El Salvador mixed in on that day. I don't think having a token Toronto FC player like Ashtone Morgan or Jonathan Osorio would have improved the attendance numbers (although they are both good players that would have fit into the team well).

Before the game Dwayne DeRosario was presented with a plaque to commemorate his long service to Canada. Team captain Julian de Guzman who has almost served as long played only 13 minutes before being subbed because of a calf injury.

This game was dominated by Canada outshooting the visitors 12-1 and 10-0 for shots on target. Belize rarely got by the Canadian 35 yard line. Kenny Stamatopoulos had almost nothing to do to earn the shutout. Canada had a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks and had many more crosses from each wing sent into the box. I was disappointed by Canadian forwards Cyle Larin not getting away really great shots but he has cooled off at club level too with him still tied for the all-time MLS rookie scoring title for the last few weeks with Orlando City. As bad was Issey Nakajima-Farran who fired off target several times or gave away the ball before getting a chance to shoot or pass. Canada did score two scrambly goals which helped their cause.

Canadian players saluted fans in the south end after the game still partially covered by smoke bombs let off just before the third goal. The PA system cut in with the electronica song 'Hello' by Dragonette. I had to defend that song in the press box as very appropriate for the players' sentiment to their fans and one of the few Canadian songs played all night. The singer is the daughter of former Ontario cabinet minister Greg Sorbora.

Tonight's game was finally picked up for broadcast by TLN (Telelatino). I wouldn't care if it was broadcast with Spanish or Italian commentary as long as I could play it back when I got home. It was originally only going to be a webcast. The airwaves of Sportsnet are crammed everyday from Thursday to Tuesday with UEFA qualifiers and TSN didn't step in either. Even the Toronto FC centric GOL TV permanently went off the air last week!

(press conference comments, pictures, and audio are in: post game press conference

End of the press conference and out of the CNE grounds for a streetcar and then I found the subway jammed with baseball fans so standing room only and I wasn't home before midnight. Or well there won't be national team games for the beginning of the next round as (take your choice) either BMO will be undergoing further renovations (to put a roof over it in the offseason) or the weather will be too cold in the late Fall for games. The road points to Vancouver as the most likely choice. These poor attendances can be used as arguments to show off the national team across the country. The two 4-0 games against Belize played at Richardson Stadium in Kingston Ontario drew 8245 and 5124 three days apart back in 2004. Arguments that if games aren't held in the media center of Canada they won't be covered by the major networks means....oh they aren't covered are they? The press box with so many 'no shows' had plenty of room for me to slide back and forth on my chair around the pillars to have a clear view of the game.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

statistics (from Canadian Soccer Association)

.......................CANADA..............BELIZE...........
....................1ST HALF.....GAME........2ND HALF.....GAME....                       
Shots...................7.........12............1..........1......
Shots on target.........6.........10............0..........0......
Saves...................0..........0............6.........11......
Fouls...................2..........9............4..........7......
Corner kicks............2..........6............0..........0......
Offsides................0..........1............0..........0......
Cautions................0..........1............0..........0......

Canadian starters

Belize starters

Dwayne De Rosario receives award for his achievements for the Canadian national team.

Belize Harrison Roches (10) and Deon McCaulay (9) take opening kickoff.

Canada Cyle Larin (21) works ball in from left.

action in Belize box

Canada Atiba Hutchinson (13) runs towards left sideline.

Canada Marcel De Jong (17) near corner flag.

Canadian players salute fans in the south stand.

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