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Doha, Qatar | Khalifa International Stadium
Attendance: 2000
Issey Nakajima-Farran
David Edgar
Simeon Jackson
Julian de Guzman
Tosaint Ricketts
Randy Edwini-Bonsu
Japan Goal: Goal Scorer. Assist: Goal Scorer
Stefan Cebara
Kyle Bekker
CAN MNT Goal: Haber, Marcus. Assist: Goal Scorer
Marcus Haber
André Hainault
Nik Ledgerwood
Japan Goal: Goal Scorer. Assist: Goal Scorer
Marcus Haber scored his first international goal but it wasn’t enough to get the result for Canada – as they lost 1:2 to a strong Japanese team in a Men’s International Friendly at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Friday, 22 March, 2013.
Shinji Okazaki opened the scoring for Japan in the 8th minute when he caught keeper Milan Borjan off his line from long range to make it 1-0. Borjan had stormed out of his area to clear the attack – but was then left helpless as Okazaki’s effort sailed over him, as he retreated to goal, and into the back of the net.
Canada equalized in the 58th minute when Will Johnson whipped a well-placed corner into the box and Haber found himself in the right place to nod it goal-wards. Keeper Eiji Kawashima got a hand to it – but it was enough to keep it out – and Haber celebrated his first goal for Canada at the senior level.
The Canadians then grew in confidence and enjoyed one of their best spells of the match but it was Japan who found the winning goal.
Some extended pressure in Canada’s end led to a ball from the right being served in to substitute Mike Havenaar. The Japanese attacker hit it first time and directed it off-the-post-and-in – with what proved to be the match winner.
The Canadians came forward in search of a second equalizer and Atiba Huthcinson and substitute Tosaint Ricketts both had late chances saved by Kawashima.
Despite pushing men forward and making a number of attacking substitutions, Canada were not able to find a second goal and the match ended in a 2:1 win for Japan.
Canada started the match with Milan Borjan in goal; Nik Ledgerwood, Dejan Jakovic, David Edgar and Marcel De Jong across the back-line; Julian De Guzman, Will Johnson and Atiba Hutchinson in midfield; and Randy Edwini-Bonsu and Kyler Bekker wide of centre-forward Marcus Haber.
André Hainault replaced Ledgerwood in the 54th minute. Stefab Cebara replaced Kyler Bekker in the 67th minute. Tosaint Ricketts came in in place of Edwini-Bonsu in the 78th minute. Simeon Jackson replaced Julian De Guzman in the 84th minute. Issey Nakajima-Farran subbed in for David Edgar in the 87th minute.
Haber and Edwini-Bonsu made their first starts for the Men’s National Team on the day.
Cebara made his first appearance for Canada.
Japan started the match with Eiji Kawashima in goal; and Masahlko Inoha, Atsuto Uchida, Maya Yoshida, Gotoku Sakai, Yasuhito Endo, Makoto Hasebe, Ryoichi Maeda, Shinji Okazaki, Takashi Inui and Shinji Kagawa across the pitch.
The match at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha was watched by approximately 2,000 spectators – several hundred of which were Canadian ex-pats cheering the team on.
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