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Celje, Slovenia | Arena Petrol
Attendance: 2500
Caution: Attakora, Nana (CAN MNT)
Karl W. Ouimette
Adam Straith
Caution: Player Carded (Slovenia)
Kyle Bekker
Marcel de Jong
Jonathan Osorio
Nik Ledgerwood
Caution: Ledgerwood, Nik (CAN MNT)
Nik Ledgerwood
Slovenia Goal: Goal Scorer. Assist: Goal Scorer
Ashtone Morgan
Tosaint Ricketts
Nana Attakora
Stefan Cebara
Issey Nakajima-Farran
Kyle Porter
Caution: Straith, Adam (CAN MNT)
Adam Straith
Caution: De Rosario, Dwayne (CAN MNT)
Dwayne De Rosario
KO
33 ' | Dwayne De Rosario
36 ' | Adam Straith
45 ' | Issey Nakajima-Farran - Kyle Porter
45 ' | Nana Attakora - Stefan Cebara
45 ' | Ashtone Morgan - Tosaint Ricketts
HT
52 ' |
59 ' | Nik Ledgerwood
69 ' | Jonathan Osorio - Nik Ledgerwood
69 ' | Kyle Bekker - Marcel de Jong
74 ' |
86 ' | Karl W. Ouimette - Adam Straith
90+1 ' |
FT
Walter Birsa’s goal in the 52nd minute was the only goal of the game as Canada ended 2013 with a 1:0 loss to Slovenia on 19 November 2013 in Celje, SVN.
Birsa’s goal came from outside the 18-yard-box and it looked as though Canadian goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos slipped on the wet surface trying to get to the ball after some heavy rain had made the surface quite slick for the game.
The goal came after a first half where Canada had done well keeping up with a team ranked 30th in the latest FIFA rankings. The first two scoring chances of the game were in favour of the Canadians with Kyle Porter and Dwayne De Rosario getting chances.
Porter got Canada’s first chance in the 9th minute when De Rosario gave him the ball from the right side. The DC United striker let his shot go from the top of the 18-yard-box but it Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak made the save.
Porter turned provider four minutes later when he fed De Rosario inside the penalty area. De Rosario lot a powerful shot go was on target but Oblak had to dive well to his right to push the ball out for a corner.
In the 23rd minute, Canada breathed a sigh of relief when Roman Bezjak was played through near the edge of the Canadian penalty area but his curling left footed shot went off the crossbar and out.
The second half was a relatively even 45 minutes but saw Birsa get the winner in the opening few minutes.
Canada pressed late as space opened up in the latter parts of the game but couldn’t find the equalizer.
The game did mark the debut of Montreal Impact defender Karl W. Ouimette, who came on as a second half substitute.
Canada had a starting XI with Kenny Stamatopoulos in goal with Nik Ledgerwood, Doneil Henry, Andre Hainault and Marcel de Jong on the back line. Stefan Cebara, Pedro Pacheco, Dwayne De Rosario, Tosaint Ricketts, and Kyle Porter made up the midfield and attack.
At halftime, Canadian Head Coach Benito Floro replaced Ricketts with Ashtone Morgan, Cebara with Nana Attakora, and Porter with Issey Nakajima-Farran. Later in the half, Ledgerwood was replaced by Jonathan Osorio (68’), de Jong by Kyle Bekker (69’), and Straith was replacd by Karl W. Ouimette (86’).
Slovenia had a starting XI with Jan Oblak in goal and Martin Milec, Miral Samardzic, Bostjan Cesar, and Andraz Struna made up the defence. Andraz Kirm, Jasmin Kurtic, Dalibor Stevanovic, Valter Birsa, Roman Bezjak, and Zlatko Dedic made up the midfield and attack.
At halftime, Slovenian Head Coach Srecko Katanec replaced Samardzic with Gregor Balazic, Kirm with Nejc Pecnik, and Dedic with Dejan Lazarevic. Later in the half, Birsa was replaced by Zeljko Filipovic (60’), Bezjak by Robert Beric (67’), and Cesar by Branko Ilic (78’).
De Rosario and Straith both picked up yellow cards in the first half. Hainault and Attakora were booked for Canada in the second half.
Dalibor Stevanovic picked up a yellow card in the second half for Slovenia.
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