Canada simmed: a 1-1 draw against Nigeria could prove costly
The opening fifteen minutes were quite even, with Alphonso Cho having the best chance when his close-range effort was caught well by Romanus Ayorinde. It was at the twenty-minute mark that Murtala Obasi stunned the Canadians by shooting past Houston Hernandez and in after a good through-ball by Onyemere Okafor. Ayorinde continued to make some good saves on close-range shots, but the biggest scare for Nigeria was when Rueben Webber got a piece of a Canadian corner, and forced defender Olejuru Okonu to clear off the line. The Nigerians held on until half-time, a real cause for concern for Canada.
Canada won a penalty early in the second half after Webber's shot was saved and Cho was fouled by Sadiq John Obi just as he was pulling back the trigger. John Obi was sent off and Canada had the chance to tie with a penalty. Cho stepped up...and his weak penalty was saved easily by Ayorinde. Soon after, Cho unselfishly passed to substitute Cristobal Carney, who scored with a cool finish to tie the game at 1-1, but Canada were still not winning. Another substitute, Cedrick Weir, hit the post from long range, and Chieloka Obafemi kicked the ball away before Cho could get the chance to score on the rebound. Canada put immense pressure on the Nigerian net in injury time. Cho found himself through on goal but instead made an awful pass and Nigeria cleared. Canada got the ball back and, eventually, Carney stole the ball from Tosin Akinola and shot. Ayorinde saved, and Akinola cleared before Carney could try again. That sealed it: an unlikely and very lucky draw for Nigeria.
Canada switched their tactics in this game. They fielded a 4-2-1-3 (two defensive midfielders, one attacking mid, and three strikers, with Cho playing a little farther up field than the other two) against a Nigerian 4-1-2-1-2 (a flat back four, a diamond midfield with very wide wide-men, and two up front in the middle). They dominated SC's, but couldn't find a way past Ayorinde. Sometimes the sim does this to you.
Though the obvious man of the match would be Ayorinde, the duo of Carney and Cedrick Weir were very impressive off the bench, so I'll give Canada's man of the match award to Cristobal Carney. However, Canada needs to get back on track against Algeria.
Besides Sadiq John Obi's sending-off, there were two yellow carded players: Canada's Alden Miranda and Nigeria's Sam Eliakwu.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Canada 8-0 Saudi Arabia: 2010 U21 ConfedCup
Canada drill eight past Saudi Arabia in an easy start to the U21 ConfedCup.
Rueben Webber had the first real chance of the game when he hit the woodwork ten minutes in, but it wasn't long until he set up the first goal of the game which was finished off by Cristobal Carney from a tight angle. Alphonso Cho then had the chance to put Canada two goals up, but blasted over an open net after Grant Boivin hit the bar. He redeemed himself by scoring from close range just before the breaker to put Canada ahead by the end of the first half. Cho started the second period as he had ended the first, scoring on a breakaway, before Webber got in on the fun, scoring a similar goal a few minutes later. Carney scored his second with another shot from a tight angle; Fawaz Taiban should have saved it, but instead it trickled in off the post. He made the same mistake when Webber scored in the 73rd minute. Six minutes later, Webber secured his hat trick, when he shot home after Taiban had saved his first effort. Cho notched up a hat trick as well, with another close-range effort in injury time. The final score: 8-0 for Canada.
Both teams fielded similar 3-4-3 variations, with the two attacking midfielders both on the wing and the defensive midfielders in the centre. Saudi Arabia's centre forward was slightly behind the other two, while Canada has a flat three in attack, with Carney the widest positioned player on the field. Canada easily outshot their opponents, although Taiban was medicore in net for the Saudis.
Carney looked good on the left wing, as did Boivin and defensive midfielder Parker Fay. Cho meanwhile, was slightly disappointing, struggling to hit the target, even though he did of course score three goals. Still, a solid all-around performance from team Canada and I'm going to give the man of the match award to Fay.
Canadian defender Sanford Braden picked up the game's only yellow card.
Rueben Webber had the first real chance of the game when he hit the woodwork ten minutes in, but it wasn't long until he set up the first goal of the game which was finished off by Cristobal Carney from a tight angle. Alphonso Cho then had the chance to put Canada two goals up, but blasted over an open net after Grant Boivin hit the bar. He redeemed himself by scoring from close range just before the breaker to put Canada ahead by the end of the first half. Cho started the second period as he had ended the first, scoring on a breakaway, before Webber got in on the fun, scoring a similar goal a few minutes later. Carney scored his second with another shot from a tight angle; Fawaz Taiban should have saved it, but instead it trickled in off the post. He made the same mistake when Webber scored in the 73rd minute. Six minutes later, Webber secured his hat trick, when he shot home after Taiban had saved his first effort. Cho notched up a hat trick as well, with another close-range effort in injury time. The final score: 8-0 for Canada.
Both teams fielded similar 3-4-3 variations, with the two attacking midfielders both on the wing and the defensive midfielders in the centre. Saudi Arabia's centre forward was slightly behind the other two, while Canada has a flat three in attack, with Carney the widest positioned player on the field. Canada easily outshot their opponents, although Taiban was medicore in net for the Saudis.
Carney looked good on the left wing, as did Boivin and defensive midfielder Parker Fay. Cho meanwhile, was slightly disappointing, struggling to hit the target, even though he did of course score three goals. Still, a solid all-around performance from team Canada and I'm going to give the man of the match award to Fay.
Canadian defender Sanford Braden picked up the game's only yellow card.
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