The Canadian men’s national team lost their final game of the September window. This was to a tough Uruguay team in Bratislava, Slovakia. Both teams played at the National Football Stadium (Stadion Tehelné Pole) in downtown Bratislava in front of Canadian and Uruguayan fans the team played a solid 90 minutes. However, Canada was edged by Uruguay at the National Football Stadium in Slovakia.
Canada was edged by Uruguay 2-0 in Slovakia
Game Summary: Canada was edged by Uruguay
6’ Nicolás de la Cruz scores with a fantastic free-kick following a set-piece gives as #ElEquipoQueNosUne takes the lead! #SelecciónUruguaya#CANvURU | 0-1 | #FIFApic.twitter.com/n1VutkaTtl
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) September 27, 2022
Canada will now have six weeks before making the trip to Doha, Qatar to play in their first World Cup since 1986 and on Tuesday night took another step forward in the process. The 13th best country in the world got off to a fast start as they earned a free kick in the seventh minute and off the set piece Nicolas De La Cruz headed the ball into the back of the net.
The Canadians couldn’t get a shot on target until the 25-minute when Jonathan David tested the young Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet who made his first save of the game. Alphonso Davies, one of the bright spots, sprinted up and down the field, controlling the ball and trying to create scoring opportunities.
33’ #ElEquipoQueNosUne scores again! Luis Suárez crosses the ball to Darwin Núñez, who heads the ball into the back of the net! #SelecciónUruguaya#CANvURU | 0-2 | #FIFApic.twitter.com/Wj2g2iJVRM
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) September 27, 2022
The South Americans doubled their lead in the 33-minute when Luis Suarez with a strong throw-in found Darwin Nunez who again headed the ball into the net. Samuel Adekugbe slipped on the turf leaving the opening for him to strike to the delight of the Urugyuan fans.
John Herdman made several changes in the second half which was largely dominated by the Canadians bringing in Junior Hoilett, Ismael Kone, Ike Ugbo, Tajon Buchanan, and Theo Corbeanu. Buchanan played the final 11 minutes of the game and looked ok in his first action in two months.
The CanMNT head coach John Herdman on the performance
After the game, Herdman spoke about the gap and what needs to be worked on going into the next six weeks and final preparations for the World Cup in Qatar.
“I was just talking to the players in the locker room and I was telling them you will not get an award at the World Cup for a good performance and when you have that many opportunities you have to make them count or you go home and four years of work disappear.”
Herdman also admitted he was proud of his group but he said he feels frustrated as well as it came down to lack of finish tonight.
“We should have got something out of that game and I don’t think we can be closing gaps in six weeks and it becomes an individual commitment to come in at the same level and I felt tonight in the attack we were slow in that final phase with that extra touch and that final pass.”
Stephen Eustáquio and Kamal Miller on the game
Stephen Eustáquio who has experience playing against these players in Europe since he plays now for FC Porto expressed that he would love another crack at Uruguay and he thinks the result will be different.
“We have to take the positives out of this game and we played a very good side, we controlled the game for around 75 minutes and we had our chances and I believe in a World Cup we would finish those but we didn’t finish them today and just thinking that we will save it for Qatar.”
Kamal Miller who is also part of Canada’s backline also believes his team performed well but couldn’t finish their chances when they came.
“Overall it was a good performance but we leave the field with a bitter taste in our mouth and for the most part of the game we dominated and I think it is a good lesson for us that against these top countries and top players all we need is one moment and we need to be careful around the box.”
The Canadian players will now head back to their clubs as MLS winds down and the players in Europe will have a chance to continue their season until the World Cup while Jon Herdman will need to figure out who he is bringing to Qatar and these next crucial weeks could play a huge factor.
The team will be back in action on November 17th in Dubai as they will face Japan in their final friendly just a mere six days before facing Belgium in their opening group stage match in the FIFA World Cup.
