Canadian soccer fans hope for a 'good journey' to World Cup after qualifying win in Hamilton - CBC.ca | Canada News Media
Connect with us

Sports

Canadian soccer fans hope for a 'good journey' to World Cup after qualifying win in Hamilton – CBC.ca

Published

 on


Kaitlin Coward was just trying to make it back to her seat when she started running and screaming with joy. 

Minutes into the World Cup qualifying match in Hamilton, Team Canada scored its first goal against the U.S.

“We’re already beating the states. That’s a big deal,” she said.

The Whitby, Ont., resident was among 12,000 fans at Tim Hortons Field on a cold and windy Sunday to watch the match between the two national men’s teams. 

Normally there would have been twice as many fans, but public health measures aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 capped the arena at half-capacity.

Dr. Dominik Mertz, an infectious disease specialist with McMaster University in Hamilton, told CBC radio program Day 6  that outdoor events like the soccer game aren’t as risky as indoor matches.

“It’s a setting with a relatively good track record when you look internationally with soccer games or other outdoor games,” he said.

The potential risk didn’t stop U.S. supporters Nick and TJ Cleavelin from travelling to Hamilton. 

The two Texans were surrounded by a boisterous red-and-white sea of Canadian fans who drummed, screamed and chanted.

Cyle Larin, 17, celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half of a Canada vs. United States World Cup qualifying match, at Tim Hortons Field, in Hamilton, on Jan. 30, 2022. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

There were roughly 12,000 fans at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton on Sunday to see Canada take on the U.S. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

A soccer fan draped in a Canadian flag watches Team Canada maintain a 1-0 lead against the U.S. in the first half of the match. (Bobby Hristova/CBC)

“We got some booing, some thumbs-down, got a little heckling, but it was fun,” TJ said.

The U.S. was down 1-0 at the end of the first half. The team had a free kick in the final minutes of the second half that could have tied the game, but Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who grew up in Hamilton, made the save.

The crowd roared and didn’t quiet down again.

Some fans tore off their shirts and cheered for Canada despite it being as low as -10 C. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

U.S. fans watch as Canada beats their team 2-0 on Sunday, despite the Americans having more time with the ball and a few close opportunities to score. (Bobby Hristova/CBC)

Canadian flags waved and soccer fans cheered during the exciting World Cup qualifier in Hamilton. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

With minutes left in the game, Canada scored to seal a 2-0 victory.

Some fans yanked off their shirts and started swinging them in the air, bare-chested despite the sub-zero temperatures.

Omar Diaz, who came from the state of Georgia, went farther than most, jumping into a pile of snow while shirtless after the game.

His team didn’t win, but he was happy to watch the match.

“Canada won and my respect to Canada,” he said.

Steven Vitória congratulates keeper Milan Borjan after making a save during Canada’s 2-0 win against the United States in a men’s World Cup qualifying match. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Player Steven Vitória greets family in the stands after Canada’s 2-0 win. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Gail and Clinton Mitchell, from Brampton, Ont., were hoping for at least a tie game, but got an even better result, with Canada winning 2-0. (Bobby Hristova/CBC)

Dressed up snugly, Clinton Mitchell said the win was everything he had hoped for.

“It’s good to see all the fans here and everybody giving them support because, man, this could be a good journey for all of us,” said the Brampton, Ont., resident. 

The journey to qualify at the World Cup in Qatar later this year is not over — Canada has four more matches in the final World Cup qualifying round.

While not all fans are confident Canada will end up winning the Cup itself, most are ready for the ride.

“Just getting to the World Cup is going to be something else. Since 1986, they haven’t been there and so I’m really excited for them to be able to go there,” said Vancouver resident Zee Samnani.

Adblock test (Why?)



Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

 on

 

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

 on

 

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

 on

 

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version