Canada wasn’t the only team in action on Friday night. There were a full slate of international matches and four Vancouver Whitecaps FC players saw minutes. See below for a summary.
PARKER ‘OUSTANDING’ IN OLYMPIC QUALIFER
Last week, Tim Parker said it “would be an honour” to help lead the U.S. back to the Olympics.
Well, he’s off to a good start.
Making his first international appearance in over five years, Parker played the full 90 minutes as the U.S. U-23s earned a 1-1 road draw against Colombia on Friday in the first leg of this Olympic qualifying playoff – setting up the decisive second leg on Tuesday in Frisco, Texas.
By all accounts, Parker turned in an “outstanding” performance.
BOLANOS, WASTON HELP COSTA RICA REMAIN UNBEATEN
Both Christian Bolaños and Kendall Waston appeared for Costa Rica in a 1-1 road draw with Jamaica, helping the Ticos remain atop their World Cup qualifying group with a 2W-0L-1D record.
Both players drew praise following the match, with Costa Rica head coach Oscar Ramirez singling out Bolaños as a difference maker.
Waston played the full 90 minutes, while Bolaños was subbed on in the 58th minute. Less than 10 minutes later, he helped created Costa Rica’s equalizer with a shot from the top of the box that resulted in a rebound and an open net for Johnny Acosta.
#RumboAlMundial GOL de @FEDEFUTBOL_CR . Johnny Acosta empata el encuentro #Jamaica 1-1 #CostaRicahttps://t.co/3aHjhmPWSd
— NBC Deportes (@TelemundoSports) March 26, 2016
PANAMA PICKS UP A POINT
Blas Perez played 14 minutes as a second-half sub for Panama in a scoreless road draw with Haiti. As a result, Panama remain second in their World Cup qualifying group with a 1W-1L-1D record. Check out the latest standings below.
GROUP A
1. Mexico (3W-0L-0D): 9 points
2. Canada (1W-1L-1D): 4 points
3. El Salvador (0W-1L-2D): 2 points
4. Honduras (0W-2L-1D): 1 point
GROUP B
1. Costa Rica (2W-0L-1D): 7 points
2. Panama (1W-1L-1D): 4 points
3. Jamaica (1W-1L-1D): 4 points
4. Haiti (0W-2L-1D): 1 point
GROUP C
1. Trinidad & Tobago: (2W-0L-1D): 7 points
2. Guatemala (2W-1L-0D): 6 points
3. United States (1W-1L-1D): 4 points
4. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (0W-3L-0D): 0 points
The top two teams from each group will advance to the fifth round of qualifying for the CONCACAF region, also known as The Hex.
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