For more information on this match, please read the Canada-St. Lucia match report.
Canada has taken the lead in Group D for CONCACAF Stage 2 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™. Canada opened its account with three points following a 4:1 victory over St. Lucia on Friday 2 September 2011 in Toronto, ON. The victory came in front of 11,500 fans at BMO Field.
Also in Group D action on Friday 2 September, St. Kitts and Nevis and Puerto Rico played to a 0:0 draw at Warner Park Football in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis. Both of those teams trail Canada with just one point apiece. Next Tuesday 6 September, Canada will play in Puerto Rico while St. Lucia will play in St. Kitts and Nevis.
All four teams in Group D will play six matches in CONCACAF Stage 2 - a home and away match against each opponent. Only the group winner will advance to CONCACAF Stage 3. That next round’s group will feature Honduras, Cuba and the winner of CONCACAF Stage 2 Group C. In that three-team Group C, Nicaragua has a 2:0 victory over Dominica while Panama has yet to play.
Canada’s 4:1 victory improves its overall record in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers to 37 wins, 29 draws and 30 losses. Following the upcoming Tuesday 6 September match in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, it then travels to Gros Islet, St. Lucia for an 8 October away match at Beausejour Stadium.
Proud partners of the Canadian Soccer Association - Fiers partenaires de l'Association canadienne de soccer
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Qualifiers™
Location: Toronto, ON
Stadium: BMO Field
Attendance: 11500
Kickoff: 20.00 local (20.00 ET / 17.00 PT)
Broadcast: Sportsnet One
Match Tracker: LINEUPS
Canada: CAN MNT
Opponent: LCA (St. Lucia)
Canada opened up its 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ campaign on a good note with a 4:1 victory over St. Lucia. Canada opened the scoring early and then added three more goals in the second half on the warm Friday evening in Toronto, ON. Josh Simpson (two), Dwayne De Rosario and Will Johnson all scored for Canada in the big 2 September 2011 victory at BMO Field.
The first goal was scored in the seventh minute, with De Rosario providing the cross from the right side. Simpson had to retreat a stride or two from deep in the box on the left, but he got his shot on goal which hit the goalkeeper and then bounced back and forth before landing in the goal. The goal gave Canada an early 1-0 lead.
Just a minute later, St. Lucia quietly got one back. With the Simpson goal not yet announced, Tremain Paul took a long low shot from the left side that fired across the pitch and into the bottom right corner of goal.
Canada had chances throughout the first half, but did not score again before the first 45 minutes were through.
Canada settled down in the second half, in full control with the realization that the goals would come. The tie-breaker actually came on a penalty, following a handball in the box by St. Lucia. De Rosario stepped up to the spot and fired it into the left side of the net for a 2-1 Canada lead.
The next goal came 10 minutes later with Simpson scoring his second of the match. This time, Atiba Hutchinson sent Simpson in alone and Simpson coolly put the ball past Cassius for a 3-1 lead.
Late in the match, substitutes Tosaint Ricketts and Will Johnson connected for Canada's fourth and final goal of the match. De Rosario played the ball into the box and Ricketts headed it back across the goal line for Johnson to knock it in out of the air. It was Johnson's first international goal at the national "A" level.
Canada's starting XI featured Lars Hirschfeld in goal, Ante Jazic at left back, Kevin McKenna and André Hainault at centre back, Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault at right back, and Julian de Guzman, Atiba Hutchinson, Dwayne De Rosario, Iain Hume, Simeon Jackson and Josh Simpson from the midfield up through to the attack.
In the second half, coach Hart made three substitutions. He switched Hutchinson and Simpson out for Will Johnson and Tosaint Ricketts (69th minute) and then switched Hume out for Marcus Haber (82').
St. Lucia's starting XI featured Iran Cassius in goal, Kurt Frederick at left back, Bernard Edward and Nathan Justin at centre back, Pernal Williams at right back, Zaine Pierre, Hiram Hunte and Guy George at midfield, Tremain Paul at left wing, Enderson George at right wing, and Jamil Joseph as a lone striker up front.
St. Lucia had one injury in the first half, with Bernard Edward replaced by Fabian Joseph in the 29th minute. Then in the second half, coach Alain Providence switched captain Guy George off for Kevin Edward (50') and Pierre off for Cliff Valcin (69').
CANADA
Number Player Position Enter Minutes Goals
12 Beaulieu-Bourgault, Jonathan M 1 90 -
22 Borjan, Milan G - 0 -
6 de Guzman, Julian M 1 90 -
14 De Rosario, Dwayne M 1 90 1
17 Dunfield, Terry M - 0 -
15 Edgar, David D - 0 -
16 Haber, Marcus F 82 8 -
5 Hainault, André D 1 90 -
1 Hirschfeld, Lars G 1 90 -
7 Hume, Iain F 1 82 -
13 Hutchinson, Atiba M 1 69 -
10 Jackson, Simeon M 1 90 -
2 Jazic, Ante D/M 1 90 -
8 Johnson, Will M 69 21 1
3 Klukowski, Mike D/M - 0 -
4 McKenna, Kevin F/D 1 90 -
20 Peters, Jaime M - 0 -
9 Ricketts, Tosaint F 69 21 -
11 Simpson, Josh M/F 1 69 2
Game Events
Minute Event
01 Canadian player Lars Hirschfeld entered the game
01 Canadian player Ante Jazic entered the game
01 Canadian player Kevin McKenna entered the game
01 Canadian player André Hainault entered the game
01 Canadian player Julian de Guzman entered the game
01 Canadian player Simeon Jackson entered the game
01 Canadian player Josh Simpson entered the game
01 Canadian player Dwayne De Rosario entered the game
01 Canadian player Atiba Hutchinson entered the game
01 Canadian player Iain Hume entered the game
01 Canadian player Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault entered the game
06 Goal scored by canadian player Josh Simpson
07 Goal scored by opponent player Tremain Paul
08 Opponent player Williams_Pernal was cautioned
50 Goal scored by canadian player Dwayne De Rosario (Penalty)
61 Goal scored by canadian player Josh Simpson
63 Opponent player Hiram Hunte was cautioned
69 Canadian player Josh Simpson left the field
69 Canadian player Atiba Hutchinson left the field
69 Canadian player Tosaint Ricketts entered the game
69 Canadian player Will Johnson entered the game
82 Canadian player Iain Hume left the field
82 Canadian player Marcus Haber entered the game
88 Opponent player Pernal Williams was ejected (2nd Yellow)
90+1 Goal scored by canadian player Will Johnson
As for discipline, St. Lucia's Pernal Williams was assessed two yellow cards, the section which earned him an ejection in the 88th minute. Williams will miss the next match against St. Kitts and Nevis on 6 September. Also assessed a yellow card was Hiram Hunte.
While Canada's Johnson scored the first goal of his career, De Rosario scored his 18th, leaving him one shy of all-time leader De Rosario. Simpson, meanwhile, scored the second and third goals of his career, with all three goals scored on Canadian soil.
Finally, captain McKenna and De Rosarioo both started their fourth FIFA World Cup Qualifier campaigns, becoming the 8th and 9th player to take part in four cycles. Beaulieu-Bourgault, Haber, Jackson and Ricketts all made their first appearance in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier match tonight.
Canada enjoys home support
Photo: Canada Soccer / Jason Gemnich
Canada had the support of a terrific home crowd on Friday 2 September for its opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™. The Canadian team replied with a 4:1 victory over St. Lucia in the first of six matches in CONCACAF Stage 2 (September to November 2011).
The Canadian fans were loud, most notably for an impromptu singing of the national anthem during the match. They were just as loud in response to each of Canada's four goals.
The Friday match marked the fifth-consecutive time that Canada has drawn more than 10,000 fans to a home FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ match (11,500 on 2 September). In 44 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ on home soil, Canada's record is 25 wins, 11 draws and eight losses.
The Canadian team hopes to receive similar support for its upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ home matches on 11 October and 15 November. Both Tuesday matches will kick off at 19.00 ET, with the October match to be played against Puerto Rico and the November match to be played against St. Kitts and Nevis.
John Herdman named Canada’s Women’s National Team Head Coach
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John Herdman, Head Coach for the Women’s National Team
“We are pleased to welcome a world class coach like John Herdman to the Canadian soccer community,” commented Peter Montopoli, Canadian Soccer Association General Secretary. He added that “John’s leadership in taking New Zealand to two FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2011 and 2007 and to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will position our team well to achieve results on the international stage. With the hosting of the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 in Canada on the horizon, the team under John’s guidance will be focussed on the best possible performance in front of their home country.”
Coach Herdman will take the reins of the 8th ranked Canadian team that is gearing up for the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament to be held in Vancouver, January 19-29. The team has its sights set on a second straight Women’s Olympic Football Tournament having competed in Beijing in 2008. As part of his role, Herdman will also contribute to the Canadian Soccer Association’s development of a long term vision for women’s soccer in Canada.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to work in a fantastic country and with a team that has the genuine potential to be the best in the world,” stated new Head Coach Herdman. He emphasized that “the focus is multi-layered – with the Olympics sitting just around the corner, my job is to help the team achieve their podium goals, while keeping one eye on the long-term preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 and achieving sustained success beyond this event.”
On the opportunity to lead the host country for a FIFA Women’s World Cup, Head Coach Herdman commented that “being a key player in helping the team prepare for a home FIFA World Cup is a huge responsibility. The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 in Canada has the potential to be the tipping point for the explosion of the women’s game in Canada. The Canadian Soccer Association has provided this opportunity by securing the competition and it will now be the job of the players and the support team to ensure we are ready to deliver on this exciting stage”.
Herdman was most recently the Head Coach for New Zealand’s senior women’s national team, a post he held since 2006. During his tenure, he led New Zealand to the Oceania Championship twice and their participation in two FIFA Women’s World Cups as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Born in England, Herdman arrived in New Zealand in 2002 when he began to work with elite women players. This experience brought him to New Zealand Football in 2006 as their Coach Education Manager. That role was followed by his position as the Director of Football Development which he continued to hold when he assumed his role as Head Coach for the senior women’s national team in late 2006. Herdman also led the Junior Football Ferns to two FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups (2008 and 2006) and during this period he was responsible for both the U-20 and senior women’s national teams.
Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, will have two Women’s International Friendly matches (USA in Kansas City, KS on 17 September and in Portland, OR on 22 September) in advance of the Pan American Games that begin in October. The 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying will be held in Vancouver from 19-29 January, with the two finalists securing qualification spots to London 2012 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament later that year.
McKenna, De Rosario set to join select group
Centre back Kevin McKenna has been named Canada’s captain for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™, with matches set to begin Friday 2 September in Toronto at BMO Field. Canada will face St. Lucia, Puerto Rico and St. Kitts and Nevis in CONCACAF Stage 2 from September to November 2011, with only the group winner allowed to proceed to CONCACAF Stage 3.
When the matches begin, McKenna and teammate Dwayne De Rosario will join a select group of national players that have participated in four cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™. That soon-to-be group of nine includes Paul Dolan, Dale Mitchell, Pat Onstad, Paul Peschisolido, Randy Samuel, Mike Sweeney and Mark Watson. Just Onstad, who only recently retired from active play, participated in five cycles.
McKenna and De Rosario both made their FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ debut in 2000 under then-head coach Holger Osieck. A year later, they were both part of the squad for the FIFA Confederations Cup Korea-Japan 2001, Canada’s last participation in a FIFA senior men’s tournament. Now in 2011, the pair will guide Canada’s route towards the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.
McKenna of Calgary, AB currently plays his football in Germany for FC Köln. He has made 53 career appearances for Canada. De Rosario of Scarborough, ON current plays his football in USA (Major League Soccer) for DC United. He has made 60 appearances for Canada.
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