So which team had a worse Friday night? The USA, which lost to Guatemala, 2-0, in Guatemala City. Or Canada, which fell to Mexico, 3-0, in Vancouver?
Canada’s defeat was a huge letdownafter the buildup to the game — it drew 54,798 fans at BC Place, setting a new attendance record for a Canadian World Cup qualifier — but few expected Canada to beat Mexico, the reigning Concacafchampion and unbeaten in its last 16 games.
The USA fell behind by two goals after 15 minutes. Canada survived until the 31st minute when Javier Hernandez put Mexico ahead. Eightminutes later, Chicharito set up Hirving Lozano to make it 2-0, and Jesus Corona added the third goal in the second half.
The result could have been a lot worse as Mexicofinished with a 19-7 edge in shots and hit the woodwork twice in the first half.
“At some point,” veteran Julian De Guzman
Canada won’t have a lot of time to regroup. It plays Mexico in the rematch at Azteca Stadium onTuesday. While the Guatemala game in Columbus is being billed as a must-win game for the USA, Canada’s task will be to avoid a blowout.
One of the reasons for the extra interest in theMexico series is that Canada is in good shape to advance to the Hexagonal for the first time since 1999, but it can’t afford to sabotage its goal difference.
Canada beat Honduras, 1-0, athome, and tied El Salvador, 0-0, in San Salvador in its first two games. Honduras did no better than Canada did against Mexico at home, losing, 2-0, in November.
Canada has lost to El Trithe last eight times they met in Mexico. The last results Canada earned on Mexican soil were 1-1 ties in World Cup qualifying in 1976 and 1980.
The 1976 draw propelled Canada into a tiewith the USA, forcing a playoff against the USA that it won, 3-0, in Haiti. In both World Cup cycles, Mexico and Canada advanced out of the North American zone at the USA’s expense into thefinal-round Hexagonal, then played as a five-game tournament at a single host country.
Since then, Canada has lost its eight road games against Mexico by a margin of 32-1. De Guzmanbelieves Tuesday’s game can be closer.
“We can’t let the environment impact us,” De Guzman told the Sun. “We can’t find ourselves overwhelmed. We can’tlose focus of our plans. We have qualities that are effective in these games.”
The USA….”BY FAR”. No disrespect intended……..It was Guatemala. And we played way worse than Canada. Yes it is possible.
Whether it’s a blow out or not makes no difference; Canada will lose unless the gods of soccer intervene big time. Canada is a third rate soccer squad; simply horrible. As for the USA, incapable of playing consistently for 90 minutes, lacks quality on and off the ball, and team cohesion is below par. Its strength are grit and muscle and against Guatemala neither showed.