Canada 0-1 Ecuador: 2010 U21 ConfedCup

Veragua header puts Canada in danger of elimination.
The game's first chance was a big one, with Alfonso Cho's shot being saved by Virila Puerto after he had also saved Webber's effort from a tight angle. Canada continued to create good chances from all over the field, but the three strikers - Webber, Cho, and Cristobal Carney - just couldn't score, usually missing the target altogether. The Canadians also dominated possession, but many moves faltered in the last third of the pitch thanks to some great Ecuadorian defending. Although Canada were controlling most of the first half, Ecuador forced Houston Hernandez in the Canadian net into some fine saves, with good, accurate shots from long-range. Still, in what was a boring first half, neither side could score, and so the teams entered the changing rooms with the scoreline indicating a 0-0 stalemate.
Immediately following an Ecuador triple-substitution, Zelipe Laviada's free kick found the head of one of the substitutes, Xaiver Veragua, whose first touch of the game was a good one to say the least; his looping header sailed over Hernandez and into the Canadian net for the first goal of the game. Ulises Lezarreta came close to a second ten minutes later, but his close-range shot was parried by Hernandez for a corner. Webber and substitute Truman Land each forced a good save out of Puerto, but Canada's best chance of the game so far would come in the 83rd minute. Substitute defender Cedrick Weir made a long pass to Land, who raced through on goal, and saw his shot saved by Puerto. The ball bounced behind the keeper, and Cho ended up finidng himself in front of an open net. He then blasted it high and wide, and Ecuador, somehow, were still leading. That proved to be all the South Americans needed to make it to the final whistle. Canada had been robbed again.
Canada used the same tactic twice in a row for the first time in the tournament, as we again saw the 3-2-2-3 formation. Ecuador fielded a 3-2-1-2-2, with one of the attacking midfielders playing more as a striker.
Carney had a poor game on the wing this time, and the other two strikers weren't that good either. Cho seems to have gotten worse and worse, and at this rate, despite being arguably the squad's most skilled striker, it's difficult to say if he should start at all. Land looked good in this game, and all the defenders were solid, but overall, this was a weak performance, and the man of the match would have to be an Ecuadorian player. The scorer Veragua, the keeper Puerto, defenders Xuaco Sampil and Aguirre Iturriz, and defensive midfielder Ubarna Ucieda are all good candidates, but I thought attacking midfielder Zuri Barbas was particularly lively, impressive, and dangerous, so I'll give him the man of the match title.
Canada are currently five points behind Ecuador, who have now mathematically qualified, and three behind Nigeria in second. Canada plays the worst team in the group, Vietnam, last, so that should be an automatic win. Nigeria play Ecuador, and if the Africans lose we'll be through instead of them because our goal difference is already five better than theirs. If Nigeria draw or win however, they'll be through with Ecuador and Canada will be going home early.
Phillip Bass of Canada received the game's only booking.