With but pride left in their hearts, the Canadians pushed the Mexicans for 90 minutes en route to a 2:2 draw tonight at Commonwealth Stadium. The draw gave Canada its second point in CONCACAF Stage III of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifiers.

The point does little, however, to console the fact that Canada was eliminated from the qualification process just four days ago, even in spite of Canada’s impressive six-game home unbeaten streak against Mexico in FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers.

Veteran Tomasz Radzinski was the man of the match, scoring a go-ahead goal in the 50th minute on a play set-up by Ali Gerba. Striker Gerba took a long pass down the right side and centered it to Radzinski who ran with the ball on goal. Radzinski sidestepped Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez and put the ball in the back of the net. It was Radzinski first goal in FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers since 16 June 2004 against Belize. It was also his 10th international goal with the national team.

Mexico came back and tied the match in the 64th match courtesy a goal by substitute Matias Vuoso. Giovanni dos Santos got the ball in before Vuoso jumped to head the ball in the opposite corner past Canada’s Lars Hirschfeld.

In the last quarter of an hour, Canada continued to push forward and twice nearly scored the winner. In the 77th minute, Paul Stalteri fired a cannon from outside the box, but his shot hit the crossbar. Then in the 82nd minute, Radzinski ran in off a long pass from Patrice Bernier and nearly hit the target. A little off centre, Radzinski beat the goalkeeper but missed the net.

Early in the game, it was Ali Gerba who opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Gerba now has six goals on the season, all of which has come in the FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers.

The play started with midfielder Patrice Bernier who lobbed it up to Kevin Harmse, who had his back to the Mexicans. The ball then found its way to Gerba’s feet who touched it once before firing on net from just outside the box. His shot beat Sanchez and hit the target.

Gerba is just the second Canadian to score six goals in a season, but the first to do so in FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers. Igor Vrablic holds the single-season record with seven goals back in 1985. It also marked the first time Canada scored in seven-consecutive FIFA World Cup™ Qualifier matches.

Twenty-two minutes after Canada took the lead, however, Mexico scored off a free kick. From 20 metres out, Carlos Salcido’s shot deflected through a hole in the wall and past Hirschfeld.

Unfortunately for Canada, the free kick had been awarded after a collision in which Marcel de Jong was injured on the play. Despite de Jong’s injury in the collision, the free kick was awarded the other way. In place of de Jong, Chris Pozniak joined the Canadian attack.

Mexico’s goal lifted the team’s spirits, giving it energy for the better of 12 minutes before the end of the first half. Mexico’s attack failed to produce a lead goal.

In the match, coach Dale Mitchell had Adrian Serioux back in his starting lineup after Serioux missed a match because of suspension. Mitchell also called up Charles Gbeke who, after Richard Hastings went down late in the game, made his second appearance with the national team.

Canada’s final game in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifiers will be next month in Kingston, Jamaica. The Canada-Jamaica contest will be played on 19 November.