When it comes to youth international football, few programs match the pedigree of Mexico. With two FIFA U-17 World Cups to their name and a runner-up performance two years ago, Mexico churns out talent year after year.
But on Friday night in Honduras, Canada was at least the equal of this edition of the Mexican U-17 team and certainly had a chance at bettering them as the two teams settled on a 1-1 draw.
Ulises Torres gave Mexico the lead in the 19th minute but Canada got things level four minutes before halftime when Tristan Borges scored one of the goals of the tournament.
The result means Canada remains tied atop Group B with Mexico as both teams have seven points. Mexico, however, has a better goal difference, which would be the tiebreaker in the event both teams have the same amount of points at the end of the group stage.
With the tie, though, Canada could at least book a spot in the tournament’s playoff stage with a win over St. Lucia on Monday.
Mexico had more of the possession in the opening few minutes but didn’t cause too much difficulty to the Canadian back line.
But just before the 20-minute mark, Torres made a run towards the near post and was first to the ball and redirected it past the Canadian defenders with a well-placed header.
But no strangers to being down a goal, Canada almost immediately replied and put in good periods of possession before ultimately tying the game in the 41st minute when Tristan Borges unleashed a ferocious curling right-footed shot that tucked into the left corner.
There wasn’t much difference between the two teams in the second half as both sides fashioned half chances but neither side really threatened. Canada looked to have the advantage in possession later in the game as they searched for the winner.
In the end, it was a fair result. The draw was just Canada’s second in nine meetings in this competition with Mexico to go along with one win and five losses.
“I don’t think this team will get their heads down but I don’t like the situation we’re always putting ourselves in, having to come back from behind,” said Head Coach Sean Fleming. “But we’ve told our kids over and over, things aren’t always going to go the way we want them to go and we have to be able to react.”
Canada is a win away from the playoff round that will ultimately determine whether or not they go to the FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year in Chile but there still is a chance at top spot in Group B, which means automatic qualification as well as a chance to play for the CONCACAF U-17 Championship.
For that to happen, Canada has to win out and hope that Mexico can drop points in either of their last two games or score plenty of goals as Mexico currently holds the tiebreaker with better goal difference should the teams remain level on points at the end.
But Canada knows that in order to just make it to the playoff round, they’ll need the same kind of fight they’ve shown every game thus far and was shown on Friday night when Tristan Borges tied the game with a sensational finish late in the first half.
“We know as this long journey goes on, that you have to get better in each game,” said Fleming. “That’s going to be our focus now as we go onto our next opponent.”
Canada takes on St. Lucia on Monday before wrapping up Group B play on Thursday against Panama.
Scoring summary
19' - MEX - Ulises Torres
41' - CAN - Tristan Borges
Canada
1.Luciano Trasolini; 2.Kadin Chung, 5.Kosovar Sakiki, 19.Gabriel Boakye, 12.Thomas Mickoski; 6.Munir Saleh, 10.Tristan Borges, 8.Harrison Patton (16.Dante Campbell 64'), 20.Richlord Ennin (15.Cyrus Rollocks); 7.Duwayne Ewart, 14.Daniel Sagno (17.Terran Campbell 77')
