simon99
02 Sep 2006, 07:32 PM
Men’s U-20 Team
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Canadian U20s drop heartbreaker in Belgium
Ottawa, Ontario – An injury time penalty sent the Canadian U20 Men’s National Team to a 2-1 defeat tonight at the hands of the U19 Belgian National Team in St. Truiden, Belgium.
The Canadians began the match well, displaying the technical ability to keep possession for long periods in the match’s first 30 minutes. The athleticism of the Canadians also troubled the Belgian defense as they struggled to keep attackers in front of them. This was particularly evident in the 13th minute when the Canadians countered a Belgian attack with Massimo Di Ioia dodging a sliding Belgian defender at midfield and slipping the ball to A.J. Gray in space on the right wing. Gray created space for himself and sent a picture-perfect cross to the far post where Will Johnson met the ball with a brilliant header that beat the Belgian ‘keeper to the bottom corner giving the Canadians a 1-0 lead. Gray appeared dangerous throughout the half, routinely beating his defender off the dribble to get crosses in.
Despite being out-played for large stretches of the opening half, the Belgians were able to create several quality chances of their own. Canadian goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic, was equal to the task on each occasion and received some help from his post in the 33rd minute off Belgian striker, David Pollet’s shot from a sharp angle. This proved to be the best opportunity of the half for Belgium and the Canadians headed to the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
The second half began with the Belgians taking the lion’s share of the possession but rarely threatening the Canadian goal. The Canadians never looked like conceding until the 73rd minute when Pollet raced onto a ball over the top and beat Begovic with a low blast to the near post. The match seemed destined to end in a draw until injury time when substitute Vittorio Villano found himself behind the Canadian defense. Defender, Kennedy Owusu-Ansah was forced to cut the Belgian attacker down, conceding a penalty. Villano stepped up and sent the Belgians to victory slotting home a well-taken penalty just out of Begovic’s reach.
“There were opportunities to add to our lead in the first half when we were on top of them,” explained Canadian Head Coach, Dale Mitchell. “However, some of our player’s lack of match fitness and match experience at this level cost us in the second half. We need many more games like tonight.”
The teams will meet once again on Monday, September 4th at 2000 at the home pitch of Belgian side Patro Maasmechelen.
Match Info
Saturday, September 2, 2006 - International Friendly
St-Truidense – St-Truiden, Belgium
CANADA (1987) - 1 (1)
BELGIUM (1988) – 0(2)
Goals: Canada – Johnson (13); Belgium – Pollet (73); Villano (90)
CANADA: 1-Begovic, Asmir (c); 2-Owusu-Ansah, Kennedy; 3-Gala, Gabe; 5-Lumley, Stephen; 6-Edgar, David; 8-Nunez, Cristian (15-Balde, Ibrahim 73); 9-Di Ioia, Massimo (17-Babineau, Olivier 64); 10-Johnson, Will; 11-Gray, A.J. (7-Lacoste-Lebuis, Olivier); 13-Lammie, Shane (12-Haber, Marcus 45); 14-Attakora-Gyan, Nana
Head Coach: Dale Mitchell
Subs not used: 16-Bonafacio, Brandon; 22-Monsalve, David
BELGIUM: 1-Mignolet, Simon; 2-Kone, Michael (22-De Troetsel 58); 3-De Bock, Jelle; 4-Van Gijseghem, Daan; 5-Huyghebaert, Jeremy; 6-Clappaert, Kwinton (Verdonck, Sven 73); 7-Henkens, Robin; 8-Kums, Sven; 9-Pollet, David; 10-Vossen, Jelle (17-Villano, Vittoiro 58); 11-Cherlet, Jelle
Head Coach: Marc Van Geersom
Subs not used: 12-Bolat, Sinan; 13-Raes, Tom; 15-De Wilde, Stijn; 16-Vanderzijl, Jerome; 18-Buyens, Yoni; 19-Develer, Kane; 20-Capon, Brecht; 21-Vandenbroeck, Davy
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Canadian U20s drop heartbreaker in Belgium
Ottawa, Ontario – An injury time penalty sent the Canadian U20 Men’s National Team to a 2-1 defeat tonight at the hands of the U19 Belgian National Team in St. Truiden, Belgium.
The Canadians began the match well, displaying the technical ability to keep possession for long periods in the match’s first 30 minutes. The athleticism of the Canadians also troubled the Belgian defense as they struggled to keep attackers in front of them. This was particularly evident in the 13th minute when the Canadians countered a Belgian attack with Massimo Di Ioia dodging a sliding Belgian defender at midfield and slipping the ball to A.J. Gray in space on the right wing. Gray created space for himself and sent a picture-perfect cross to the far post where Will Johnson met the ball with a brilliant header that beat the Belgian ‘keeper to the bottom corner giving the Canadians a 1-0 lead. Gray appeared dangerous throughout the half, routinely beating his defender off the dribble to get crosses in.
Despite being out-played for large stretches of the opening half, the Belgians were able to create several quality chances of their own. Canadian goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic, was equal to the task on each occasion and received some help from his post in the 33rd minute off Belgian striker, David Pollet’s shot from a sharp angle. This proved to be the best opportunity of the half for Belgium and the Canadians headed to the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
The second half began with the Belgians taking the lion’s share of the possession but rarely threatening the Canadian goal. The Canadians never looked like conceding until the 73rd minute when Pollet raced onto a ball over the top and beat Begovic with a low blast to the near post. The match seemed destined to end in a draw until injury time when substitute Vittorio Villano found himself behind the Canadian defense. Defender, Kennedy Owusu-Ansah was forced to cut the Belgian attacker down, conceding a penalty. Villano stepped up and sent the Belgians to victory slotting home a well-taken penalty just out of Begovic’s reach.
“There were opportunities to add to our lead in the first half when we were on top of them,” explained Canadian Head Coach, Dale Mitchell. “However, some of our player’s lack of match fitness and match experience at this level cost us in the second half. We need many more games like tonight.”
The teams will meet once again on Monday, September 4th at 2000 at the home pitch of Belgian side Patro Maasmechelen.
Match Info
Saturday, September 2, 2006 - International Friendly
St-Truidense – St-Truiden, Belgium
CANADA (1987) - 1 (1)
BELGIUM (1988) – 0(2)
Goals: Canada – Johnson (13); Belgium – Pollet (73); Villano (90)
CANADA: 1-Begovic, Asmir (c); 2-Owusu-Ansah, Kennedy; 3-Gala, Gabe; 5-Lumley, Stephen; 6-Edgar, David; 8-Nunez, Cristian (15-Balde, Ibrahim 73); 9-Di Ioia, Massimo (17-Babineau, Olivier 64); 10-Johnson, Will; 11-Gray, A.J. (7-Lacoste-Lebuis, Olivier); 13-Lammie, Shane (12-Haber, Marcus 45); 14-Attakora-Gyan, Nana
Head Coach: Dale Mitchell
Subs not used: 16-Bonafacio, Brandon; 22-Monsalve, David
BELGIUM: 1-Mignolet, Simon; 2-Kone, Michael (22-De Troetsel 58); 3-De Bock, Jelle; 4-Van Gijseghem, Daan; 5-Huyghebaert, Jeremy; 6-Clappaert, Kwinton (Verdonck, Sven 73); 7-Henkens, Robin; 8-Kums, Sven; 9-Pollet, David; 10-Vossen, Jelle (17-Villano, Vittoiro 58); 11-Cherlet, Jelle
Head Coach: Marc Van Geersom
Subs not used: 12-Bolat, Sinan; 13-Raes, Tom; 15-De Wilde, Stijn; 16-Vanderzijl, Jerome; 18-Buyens, Yoni; 19-Develer, Kane; 20-Capon, Brecht; 21-Vandenbroeck, Davy