Canada suffers heartbreak after penalty kicks against USA in quarterfinal Gold Cup
A penalty converted by captain Steven Vitória in the closing minutes of regulation and a great individual try by winger Jacob Shaffelburg to score in extra time were ultimately not enough for the Canadian men’s soccer team.
The Americans defeated Canada 3-2 on penalties on Sunday night in Cincinnati in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup after a 2-2 tie after extra time remained.
Kamal Miller and Jacen Russell-Rowe each scored in the shootout for Canada. Vitória, who opened the penalty kicks, and Liam Fraser, who finished second, were stopped by American goalkeeper Matt Turner. Charles-Andreas Brym hit the crossbar as Canada’s fifth shooter to end the game.
Cade Cowell, Gianluca Busio and Jesús Ferreira all scored for the United States after Brandon Vázquez failed to convert the team’s opening penalty kick.
WATCH l Canada out of Gold Cup after losing to USA on penalties:
Canada lost 3-2 to the Americans on penalties in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday evening.
Veteran center back Vitória sent Canada to extra time by converting a penalty in the 93rd minute.
A confident shot into the center of goal from the 36-year-old tied the game at 1-1 after the video assistant referee (VAR) caught a handball from US defender Miles Robinson.
Canada appeared to take control in the second half of overtime.
Shaffelburg scored his first international goal in style after running with the ball from the half way line and sending a deflected shot past Turner.
An academy product of Toronto FC now with Nashville SC, the 23-year-old from Kentville, NS came on for Junior Hoillet late in the second half.
But Canada’s fortunes changed when one of Canadian goaltender Dayne St. Clair’s many saves deflected off the game to teammate Scott Kennedy in the penalty area. The centre-back unintentionally shot the ball into his own net with his chest to make the game 2–2 with five minutes remaining in extra time.
Exhausted team
The heartbreaking defeat wraps up the Gold Cup campaign of an exhausted Canadian squad.
Big name players Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan, Alistair Johnston and Ismael Kone were not named in the tournament roster. Former captain Atiba Hutchinson retired from football before the competition and starting goalkeeper Milan Borjan suffered an injury after the second Gold Cup match.
Canada was mediocre in a 2–2 draw with unranked Guadeloupe in Toronto and in a goalless group game with No. 116 Guatemala in Houston. A 4–2 win against Cuba, also in Houston, helped Canada advance by five points and finished second behind Guatemala (7 points) to make the quarterfinals.
LOOK | Canada through to Gold Cup quarterfinals after victory over Cuba
Liam Millar closed the scoring with his first international goal as Canada beat Cuba 4-2 to clinch second spot in Group D. Canada will advance to the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup, where they will face the United States on Sunday.
Quiet and controversial 1st half
St. Clair, taking over for the injured Borjan for the second game in a row, stopped the lone shot on target before halftime – a hit by Colombian-born striker Ferreira in the closing moments of a dull first half.
Despite the lack of scoring opportunities, the rivalry-packed game had its fair share of controversy.
Canada were denied a possible penalty after VAR review late in the first half when US defender Miles Robinson appeared to deflect a header from Canadian center back Zac McGraw with his hand.
Referee Marco Ortiz, however, saw an offensive foul seconds before the game and decided against the penalty after minutes of checking.
St. Clair showed up again in the 68th minute when needed and stopped midfielder Busio’s shot. The 26-year-old goalkeeper who plays for San Antonio FC of the USL Championship also made some good saves in extra time.
Cavallini was booked for a foul on James Sands wide of the center marker in the 42nd minute. Teammates McGraw, Miller and Jonathan Osorio were also booked later in the match. American players Matt Miazga and Cowell received yellow cards.
An assistant referee was hit in the face by a ball seconds into the game and required medical attention. The game was halted for several minutes before he left the field bleeding and was replaced on the sidelines by the fourth official.
The US will take on Panama on Wednesday in San Diego, California, for a shot at the Gold Cup trophy. The Panamanians went 4-0 past invitees Qatar in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Amari’i Bell scored as Jamaica defeated Guatemala 1-0 earlier on Sunday to progress to the semi-finals. The Reggae Boyz will face Mexico on Wednesday, which beat Costa Rica 2-0 on Saturday, for a spot in the final.
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Host Andi Petrillo previews Canada at the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup, chats with Christine Sinclair and comments on Canada’s performance so far at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
