It wasn’t the prettiest of games but Canada’s senior men’s national team endured the Central American humidity to conclude their 2014 season with a 0-0 draw with Panama Tuesday at Estadio Rommel Fernandez.
In a World Cup qualifying campaign, a point on the road is generally seen as a positive, no matter the circumstance. So the fact that Canada picked up a result on the road in Tuesday’s friendly is certainly cause for measured optimism.
Canada was under pressure for long periods in the first half as the Panamanians were in their element on their home field. But Canada maintained their shape and had some help from Milan Borjan in goal, as they got through the worst of it unscathed.
“It was pretty obvious in the first half that we were a bit sluggish,” said captain Julian de Guzman. “We weren’t organized very well. It was more of a mental thing that affected our game. At halftime we rectified it. We came back in the second half and I thought it was a better performance on the ball and defensively as well. To conclude the camp with a point it’s a good result but it’s obvious the things we have to work on.”
The players and staff were well aware the first half performance wasn’t up to the standards they keep for themselves but the tactical adjustments made at the half were evident as Canada found something that allowed them to move forward and take it to the hosts a bit more.
One player who looked particularly lively in the second half was Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Russell Teibert, who was subbed on in the 62nd minute. Tuesday was Teibert's first appearance of 2014 with the senior national team and eighth of his career.
It’s been quite some time since Canada got a result in Central America so a night where Canada had to scrap for 90 minutes is a small victory. With still so much work to do and so much development to come, the growing mentality that results are possible in Central America is a start.
“Panama was developing a strong press that was very difficult for us to combine,” said head coach Benito Floro. “So the first half was very bad. In the second half, we started with better positioning and we started to play well. I consider this another step because at least our pressing was very good.”
NEWS AND NOTES
- Earlier in the day, Canada's U-20 men's national team defeated the U.S. 1-0 to conclude their European tour with an undefeated 2W-0L-1D record. Four Whitecaps FC players appeared in the match.
- Whitecaps FC striker Darren Mattocks was also in action on Tuesday, as his native Jamaica defeated Trinidad & Tobago 4-3 in penalty kicks after a scoreles draw in the 2014 Caribbean Cup Final. The victory guarantees the Reggae Boyz a berth in the 2016 Copa America Centenario, in addition to the 2015 Gold Cup place they earned by making the Caribbean Cup final four. Mattocks finishes the tournament tied for the lead with three goals.
TEIBERT TALK
