It’s six points from six for Canada’s men’s U-17 team as they came back from behind twice to pick up a 3-2 victory over Costa Rica on Tuesday at the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Canada kept their same starting lineup from the first match, which included five Whitecaps FC Residency players.
Jonathan Martinez opened the scoring for Costa Rica in the 17th minute with Duwayne Ewart scoring his second of the tournament to equalize in the 31st minute. Andy Reyes scored early in the second half to give Costa Rica a second time but goals from Whitecaps FC Residency striker Daniel Sagno and Kosovar Sadiki rallied Canada to victory.
Costa Rica took the lead from the penalty spot after Matthew Baldisimo fouled a Costa Rican player in the penalty area. Chung was given a yellow card on the play as Martinez converted from the spot.
But this Canadian team is no stranger to coming back from behind as their opening game win over Haiti on Friday also saw them come back from behind.
For the second straight game, Canada got some offence on the back of Harry Paton corner kicks and just past the half hour mark, Paton put one in that Costa Rica couldn’t clear and Ewart was there to convert from close range.
Canada looked the better team near the end of the first half but couldn’t put another on the board.
Minutes into the second half, Canada was behind again as Andy Reyes jumped on a pass at the back that wasn’t struck very hard and was alone on goal and beat Luciano Trasolini to give Costa Rica the lead for the second time.
Canada fought back again and was awarded a penalty kick in the 57th minute after a Paton pass split the Costa Rican back line to Ballou Tabla. Tabla smartly held onto the ball long enough to have a Costa Rican defender slide across and the referee spotted a handball and Sagno duly stepped up to convert for Canada.
Kosovar Sadiki came on at halftime and, towering above the Costa Rican defenders, got Canada level off another Paton corner kick.
One of the taller players on the pitch, Sadiki easily out-jumped the smaller Costa Rican defenders and headed in the corner from the left side to give Canada the decisive advantage in the 67th minute.
Costa Rica pushed and came close to an equalizer but Canada held out and not faces Mexico on Friday with first place in Group B on the line.
Scoring summary
32' - COS - Jonathan Martinez
31' - CAN - Duwayne Ewart
47' - COS - Andy Reyes
57' - CAN - Daniel Sagno
67' - CAN - Kosovar Sakiki
Canada
1.Luciano Trasolini; 2.Kadin Chung, 4.Matthew Baldisimo (5.Kosovar Sakiki 46'), 19.Gabriel Boakye, 12.Thomas Mickoski; 6.Munir Saleh, 10.Tristan Borges (17.Terran Campbell 89'), 8.Harrison Patton, 9.Ballou Tabla; 7.Duwayne Ewart (11.Malik Johnson 70), 14.Daniel Sagno
