This Day in Football from 18-24 June

The history of Canada’s national teams.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 18 June 1997
Canada posts its second clean sheet at a FIFA U-20 World Cup, once again via a 0:0 draw with Australia. Michael Franks is the Canadian goalkeeper.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 19 June 1983
Canada falls 0:2 to Scotland in a Men’s International Friendly match in Toronto. Teenager Colin Miller makes his debut for Canada.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 20 June 2008
Canada wins its first FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match played in Montréal, QC. Dwayne De Rosario and Ali Gerba each score a pair in Canada’s 4:1 victory over St. Vincent and the Grenadines. De Rosario becomes the 18th player to make his 50th appearance for Canada. De Rosario is also the second player to score a goal in his milestone match. Canadian players wear a black armband in honour of former player Brian Budd who passed away earlier that year.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 21 June 1967
Canada draws 1:1 with Cuba in its first Olympic Qualifying match on the road to Mexico 1968 Olympics. Harold Hansen scores the lone goal for Canada.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 21 June 2007
Against 50,790 American fans, Canada almost completes a comeback against USA in the semi-final stage of the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup at Soldier Field in Chicago. Down 0-2, Iain Hume scores in the 76th minute before Atiba Hutchinson’s apparent late goal is called back on account of an off-side call by the Assistant Referee. Canada is eliminated while USA advances to final (which it wins to qualify for the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009).

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 22 June 1957
Canada takes part in its first-ever FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match, a 5:1 win over USA at Varsity Stadium in Toronto, ON. After conceding a goal on a penalty (USA’s Harry Keough), Canada roars back to score five unanswered goals. Norman MacLeod scores Canada’s first goal while Pat Philley, Art Hughes (two) and Gogie Stewart add to the lead.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 22 June 2011
Goalkeeper Quillan Roberts scores the tying goal in a 2:2 draw with England at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011. Roberts is the first Canadian goalkeeper to score in an official match.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 23 June 1997
Canada ends a 10-match winless streak at the FIFA U-20 World Cup with a 2:1 victory over Hungary. Dwayne De Rosario and Steve Kindel score for Canada. The win pushes Canada out of the group phase for the first time in four tournaments.

THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL: 24 June 1967
Canada is eliminated from Mexico 1968 Olympic Qualification following a 1:2 loss to Cuba. Francisco Farinas scores the winning goal three minutes from full time. Both matches in the home and “away” series were played in Edmonton to save on travel expenses.