Canada on to next round of WC qualifying
Posted November 11, 2011 8:58 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
BASSETERRE — Canada is off to the next round of World Cup qualifying, but there will be some serious questions after another disappointing performance.
The Canadians were held 0-0 on Friday by tiny St. Kitts and Nevis _ population 43,000 _ but still managed to win their second-round group and advance with the single point.
Canada, ranked 83rd in the world compared to No. 109 St. Kitts, was outplayed at in front of a packed and boisterous Warner Park.
It’s the second straight goalless draw against lower-ranked opponents for Canada after the men’s national team was held 0-0 by Puerto Rico last month.
Canada (3-0-2) plays St. Kitts (1-0-4) again at Toronto’s BMO Field on Tuesday in both team’s final group game.
Only the pool winner advances in this round of qualifying for the CONCACAF region, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Canada has outscored its modest opposition 14-1 and taken 11 points out of a possible 15 in the group, but the last two games have left a lot to be desired.
With the draw, the Canadians join No. 57 Honduras, No. 100 Cuba and another qualifier in the next group phase.
The top two teams in that pool will advance to the final round of qualifying, which will see three CONCACAF teams book their tickets to the 2014 World Cup and another have a chance at joining them via a playoff.
Needing only a point to advance, Canada never looked likely to score after creating a few chances early.
The Canadians came out like it was going to be an easy night, but after Simeon Jackson, Dwayne De Rosario and Josh Simpson all missed early chances the tide changed.
And as Canada lost its swagger and imagination, St. Kitts answered with a few strong blows of its own.
The home side, a Caribbean nation comprised of the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, came out the better of the two to start the second half and could have taken the lead. Ian Lake missed a chance in the Canadian 18-yard box and Isaac George had a penalty appeal waved off just minutes apart.
Ten minutes into the second half, Jackson fed a high, looping ball in for Julian de Guzman but his volley was easily held by St. Kitts goalkeeper Akil Byron.
Canadian defender Adam Straith led an attack down the right in the 73rd and his cross found Jackson, but the striker’s touch was poor and St. Kitts cleared.
St. Kitts almost won it late. After Canadian goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld palmed a Matthew Berkeley shot wide for a corner, the resulting corner kick ricocheted around the box. Despite a few claims of handball by the hosts, the ball went out for another corner.
Jackson had another chance in the final seconds after being put through alone on goal but Byron came off his line well to preserve the draw.
