Canada needed a win to progress to the knock-out stages at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico but the team fell agonizingly short of the required result drawing Rwanda 0:0 in Pachuca.
The team had hoped to qualify as one of the four highest-ranked third-place finishers at the tournament, but Canada's tally of two points and a goal difference of minus three means that the squad is officially eliminated from Mexico 2011.
?We would have liked to have created more chances than we did,? Head Coach Sean Fleming told the media in Pachuca following the match.
?Our play was lacking today in the final third but I also give credit to Rwanda. They are a very solid team at the back, very difficult to breakdown and we were just missing that little bit of sharpness.?
As the final whistle sounded the disappointment at failing to progress at the tournament was etched on the faces of the Canadian squad.
The players gathered despondently in front of the team bench before eventually leaving the field to a chorus of applause from the local supporters in Pachuca.
?I'm proud of the boys and how they tried to play football,? said Fleming.
?I'm very upset to leave. I think we have to regret that we did not take our chances against Uruguay in the first match. At this level it is the little moments that make the difference.?
Canada finishes the tournament in third place in Group C after earning the first two points ever for the country at a FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Rwanda, a debutant at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, finishes in fourth place with one point.
England defeated Uruguay 2:0 in the other 25 June match in the group.
