Canada builds towards FIFA World Cup with strong performance against Uruguay

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team wrapped up a positive two-match international series in Europe after a 2:0 Friday win over Qatar and a 2:0 Tuesday loss to Uruguay. Cyle Larin and Jonathan David were the goalscorers in the Friday win in Vienna, Austria while Nicolas de la Cruz and Darwin Nuñez were the Uruguay goalscorers on Tuesday in Bratislava, Slovakia.
 
Canada put forth a strong performance against the South Americans Uruguay in the Tuesday 27 September match, notably carrying 56% possession, delivering 23 crosses and holding their opponents to no shots in the second half. Canada’s Stephen Eustáquio earned the Gatorade Performance of the Match honours in the Tuesday match.
 
“When you get those opportunities, you have to make them count because at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, people won’t remember the good performances,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “We’re proud of the performances across the two matches, but we were frustrated that we didn’t get something out of the Uruguay match.”
 
MATCH CENTRE & MATCH REPORT : https://canadasoccer.com/national-team-match-upcoming/?matchId=3261
 
The two-match September series kicked off Canada’s eight-week run up to their opening match at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ on Wednesday 23 November. Next up, Canada will face Japan in an international match on Thursday 17 November in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
 
“With an eight-week gap between our September matches and our first match at the FIFA World Cup, it is important for our players to experience that level of international intensity with our pre-tournament match against Japan,” said Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “Japan have consistently progressed from the group stage at recent FIFA World Cups, so it will be a good test for the group.”
 
CANADA SOCCER’S MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team are the reigning Kings of Concacaf, having finished first overall in the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers from September 2021 to March 2022. It marked the third time that Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team won a Concacaf title, having previously won the 1985 Concacaf Championship and the 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup. Canada now look forward to their second participation at the men’s FIFA World Cup with group matches against Belgium on 23 November, Croatia on 27 November, and Morocco on 1 December.

CAN 0 –  2 URU
2022-09-27 Bratislava, SVK
OneSoccer ; Stadion Tehelné pole
Referee / Arbitre : Peter Kralovic (Milan Strbo, Erik Weiss, Ivan Kruzliak)

Goals / Buts
URU 6′ Darwin Núñez ((FK right foot / pied droit) 1-0
URU 33′ Darwin Núñez (head / tête) 2-0 (a.Luis Suárez)

CANADA – 18 GK Milan Borjan capt.; 2 Alistair Johnston, 3  Samuel Adekugbe (11 Tajon Buchanan 76′), 4 Kamal Miller, 5 Steven Vitória (25 Theo Corbeanu 78′), 6 Samuel Piette (8 Ismaël Koné 55′), 7 Stephen Eustáquio, 17 Cyle Larin (12 Iké Ugbo 72′), 19  Alphonso Davies, 20 Jonathan David, 22 Richie Laryea (10 Junior Hoilett 46′). Coach / entraîneure John Herdman. Unused substitutes / substituts non utilisés: 16 GK Maxime Crépeau; 1 GK Dayne St. Clair; 9 Lucas Cavallini, 13 Derek Cornelius, 14 Mark-Anthony Kaye, 15 Charles-Andreas Brym, 21 Liam Millar, 23 Scott Kennedy, 24 Joel Waterman, 26 Luca Koleosho.

Gatorade Performance of the Match / Gatorade Performance du match:
Stephen Eustáquio