Men's National Team

1 - 2

Honduras

San Pedro Sula, Honduras | Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano

Attendance: 39000

CANADA caution to Milan Borjan Milan Borjan

76'
Nik Ledgerwood
Cyle Larin

70'
Adam Straith
Manjrekar James

65'
Tosaint Ricketts
Tesho Akindele

56'
51'

Honduras goal by Goal Scorer (assist by Goal Scorer))))
45'

Honduras goal by Goal Scorer (assist by Goal Scorer))))
CANADA goal by Manjrekar James (assist by Scott Arfield)))) Manjrekar James

35'

Timeline

Men's National Team

KO

KO
35 ' | Manjrekar James
45 ' |
HT

HT
51 ' |
56 ' | Tosaint Ricketts - Tesho Akindele
65 ' | Adam Straith - Manjrekar James
70 ' | Nik Ledgerwood - Cyle Larin
76 ' | Milan Borjan
FT

FT

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Honduras

Match Report

Canada kept the game close and Milan Borjan kept Canada in the game in a 2-1 loss in this FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualification game on a blazing Friday afternoon at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Canada took the lead when Manjrekar James scored in the 35th minute, heading home from a Scott Arfield corner. Honduras drew level on the stroke of half time when Mario Martinez scored with a bouncing shot from the top of the area. Honduras took the lead in the 51st minute when Romell Quioto converted a cross after a quick break. The result leaves Canada third in the Group A table with one game to play. Canada will play host to El Salvador on 6 September at BC Place in Vancouver.

FIRST HALF:

Canada survived an early scare in the 2nd minute as Alberth Elis was able to wriggle around Jakovic on the left side of the penalty area. His squared ball was cleared away for a corner that was cleared without much worry.

Canada came back and had the Honduran defence panicking in the 11th minute. David Edgar's ball into the penalty area was controlled well by Scott Arfield into the path of Cyle Larin. A desperate lunging tackle from Emilio Izaguirre was the only thing preventing Larin from getting clean contact on the ball.

Manjrekar James demonstrated his athleticism as well as his ability to time his tackles in the 15th minute, chasing down a streaking Elis and putting in a challenge to clear the ball for a corner. The ball was sent straight out from the set-piece.

Borjan was called upon twice in quick succession in the 26th minute. First, a shot was taken by Elis from a tight angle, but Borjan was equal to it. The rebound fell right onto the foot of Anthony Lozano, eight yards out in the centre of the penalty area, but the Canadian keeper was able to get to his feet and make the save, keeping the score level at 0-0.

Manjrekar James put Canada ahead in the 35th minute, powering home a header from a Scott Arfield corner kick. The young Canadian defender soared above several Honduran defenders to meet the ball in the six yard box and sending it into the right side of the goal. The goal was his first for the national team and put Canada 1-0 ahead.

In the 45th minute, Mario Martinez slipped in a very clever through-ball for Lozano into the six yard box. The forward was able to get a shot away, but Borjan was down well to make an astonishing save, deflecting the ball out for a corner. Borjan was once again called upon to make a world class save from the corner, diving to his left and clawing the ball away with one hand to momentarily keep Canada ahead.

Mario Martinez was able to draw Honduras level in injury time of the first half. Picking up a half-cleared corner on the edge of the penalty area, he curled it towards the left post through traffic. The ball bounced past the unsighted Borjan, into the corner of the goal and the teams went into the dressing rooms tied at one goal apiece.

SECOND HALF:

Honduras took the lead in the 51st minute on a quick break. Alberth Elis found himself in a lot of space on the right flank and swung a ball towards the back post across the six yard box. A sliding Romell Quioto was first to it, and bundled it in off his knee, putting Honduras up 2-1.

Canada didn't let their heads drop despite the unlucky concession, and David Edgar had the time and space to pick his spot in the 54th minute. His shot from 30 yards out was struck well, but drifted just wide of the left post.

Substitute Tosaint Ricketts looked to make an immediate impact, taking a shot from the right edge of the penalty area after controlling a slick pass from David Edgar. The connection with the shot was poor, however, and the ball rolled wide of the right post.

Substitute Boniek Garcia came close in the 70th minute when he was first to a lofted through pass into the Canadian area. He was able to lift the ball over the onrushing Milan Borjan, but the ball didn't fall enough to get under the crossbar. He was involved a minute later, lashing a shot wide from the left side of the penalty area.

Some neat interplay on the left flank between Marcel De Jong and Scott Arfield saw the left back in a good position to swing in a cross in the 74th minute. Tosaint Ricketts was favourite to get to his ball towards the back post, but Donis Escober was out well to claim the cross.

Borjan, had to be lively again in the 76th minute, racing Elis to a long downfield ball. The Canadian keeper was a little bit too late to the ball, and received a yellow card for his challenge. The resulting free kick right on the edge of the penalty area was charged down well by the wall.

Canada kept pressing for the equalizing goal, and Tosaint Ricketts did well to win a corner in the 79th minute, which was sent in by Arfield. Edgar got to it but didn't make clean contact, and after bouncing around the area it was hacked clear by the Honduran defence.

Atiba Hutchinson looked to capitalize on a loose ball in the 86th minute. A ball in to the penalty area from Henry was half cleared to the top of the box and the Canadian captain was the first player to it. His shot was struck powerfully, but a little wild, ending up over the crossbar.

As the game wore on Honduras were happy to defend deep and protect their lead. Canada were seeing more of the ball, but had to break down a defensive wall whilst being aware of the speed of Honduras on the break. Canada were ultimately unable to find a way back into the game, and the referee blew the final whistle in the 93rd minute for the game to finish 2-1 in favour of Honduras.

LINEUPS & NOTES:

Canada's starting XI featured Milan Borjan in goal, Doneil Henry at right back, Dejan Jakovic and Manjrekar James at centre back, Marcel De Jong at left back, and Atiba Hutchinson (c), David Edgar, Tesho Akindele, Scott Arfield, Junior Hoilett and Cyle Larin from the midfield up through to the attack.

Coach Benito Floro made three substitutions, bringing on Tosaint Ricketts to replace Tesho Akindele in the 57th minute, Adam Straith to replace Manjrekar James in the 65th minute, and Nik Ledgerwood replacing Cyle Larin in the 70th minute.

Manjrekar James' goal was his first for the senior national team.

Honduras' starting XI featured Dennis Escober in goal, Brayan Beckeles at right back, Maynor Figueroa (c) and Johnny Palacios at centre back, Emilio Izaguirre at left back, and Jorge Claros, Bryan Acosta, Mario Martinez, Romell Quioto, Alberth Elis, and Anthony Lozano in midfield up through to the attack.

Coach Jorge Luis Pinto was suspended and was replaced by Amado Guevara. He made three changes, bringing on Carlos Discua to replace Bryan Acosta in the 46th minute, Boniek Garcia replacing Romell Quioto in the 70th minute and Eddie Hernandez replacing Mario Martinez in the 79th minute.

Referee Yadel Martinez was kept busy in a physical contest, but only handed out one yellow card, taking down Milan Borjan's name in the 76th minute.