Canada tied Guadeloupe in CONCACAF-opener
TORONTO –
A late stoppage time own goal from Jacen Russell-Rowe enabled Guadeloupe to draw Canada 2-2 in Tuesday’s CONCACAF Gold Cup opener at BMO Field.
Lucas Cavallini scored for Canada, with the second goal being a Guadeloupe own goal.
Thierry Ambrose had the other goal for Guadeloupe.
Canada is 2-1-1 all-time against Guadeloupe, with the previous two encounters also being in group play at the Gold Cup.
A Dwayne De Rosario penalty kick gave Canada a 1–0 victory the last time the two met in June 2011 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Guadeloupe won 2-1 when they played against each other in the Orange Bowl in Miami in June 2007.
The 47th-ranked Canadians then head to Shell Energy Stadium in Houston to complete Group D play against Guatemala ranked No. 116 on July 1 and against Cuba ranked No. 165 on July 4.
The 16-nation tournament runs through July 16 in 15 stadiums in 14 cities. BMO Field is the only Canadian stop and only for Tuesday’s game.
Ambrose opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Matthias Phaeton found Jordan Leborgne near the box and he sent a pass to a cutting Ambrose who made a fine move to freeze Steven Vitoria and blast past goalkeeper Milan Borjan from close range.
Canadian striker Junior Hoilett sent in a cross from a free kick in the 28th minute, but Kamal Miller’s header was just high and the ball went over the net.
Less than a minute into the second half, Hoilett forced a penalty when he fell while driving between two Guadeloupe defenders in the penalty area. However, after a VAR (video assistant referee) check, the referees canceled the call.
In the 48th minute, Hoilett went back to work. He sent a centering pass to a streaking Cavallini who blasted the ball in to tie the game, sending the home crowd of 15,301 into a frenzy.
Three minutes later, Canada were awarded a free kick as Ali Ahmed was brought down just outside the box. But Cavallini shot the net over the net, followed by a header which was stopped a minute later by goalkeeper Davy Rouyard.
In the next few minutes, Guadeloupe shifted the momentum with some scoring opportunities of its own. Midfielder Andreaw Gravillon fired from just outside the penalty area sending Borjan into a nosedive in the 60th minute.
Canada went up 2–1 on an own goal in the 71st minute. Charles-Andreas Brym, coming on for Hoilett just six minutes earlier, sent a pass into the penalty area for Richie Laryea, but in an attempt to get him cleared, Meddy Lina put the pass into his own net.
But Guadeloupe tied the score three minutes into stoppage time after Russell-Rowe’s attempt to clear a centering pass went into his own net.
Canada is missing some of its biggest names in Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan, Alistair Johnston, Atiba Hutchinson and Ismael Kone for the tournament.
The team also announced on Monday that Stephen Eustaquio and Samuel Adekugbe have been replaced by Jayden Nelson and Liam Fraser in the lineup.
Midfielders Ahmed and Moise Bombito, alongside defender Zac McGraw, all made their senior squad debuts on Tuesday.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 27, 2023.
