Canada wants clean sheet against Belize

Canada has targeted another clean sheet against opponent Belize in CONCACAF Round 3 of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, this time on the road at BFF Stadium in Belmopán, Belize. Canada already has a 3-0 lead in the two-match, total goals elimination series, but knows Belize will be pressing forward to score early and often to try and even the series.

The winner of the Canada-Belize series will advance to CONCACAF Round 4, joining Mexico, Honduras, and the winner of the Curaçao-El Salvador series. Belize can only tie the series with an equal 3:0 win at home, otherwise any series draw 4-4 or greater will fall in the favour of Canada on account of away goals.

The Tuesday 8 September 2015 return leg kicks off at 19.00 local (21.00 ET / 18.00 PT). In all, 12 CONCACAF nations will face off against each other on Tuesday night, with six nations advancing and six nations eliminated until Qatar 2022 Qualifiers.

Said Canadian coach Benito Floro, “Belize will be a team with good intention to score goals. They will put forth a good defence, but they also need to go ahead and attack.” As such, Canada must “consider this second match will be difficult. We do not want to concede, but if possible we can score one or two goals.”

Said Belize coach Jorge Nuñez on local television, “we need four goals to qualify. It will be very hard, but not impossible. I have a lot of confidence in my team.”

Regardless of the opponent, Canada will always consider their advesary serious to the task. As such, there are no plans to let up despite the big lead after a solid performance at home. In 2015, Belize has posted two wins, two draws, and one loss in five international matches. In recent years, they have come close to both Honduras in 2014 (an 0:2 loss) and Costa Rica in 2013 (an 0:1 loss at the CONCACAF Gold Cup).

As for Canada, they have posted a record of five wins, three draws and two losses in 10 international matches this year. Since March, Canada has conceded only once in eight matches.