The Canadian men’s soccer team had a date with Japan for their friendly match this international window, and they will have very few comforting memories of their visit to Niigata on Friday.
Interim coach Mauro Biello’s team conceded three goals in the first half and lost 4-1 to the 19th country in the FIFA world rankings.
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The Canadians clearly lacked answers and were far from the preparation of their rivals, but in the second minute the Japanese took the lead through Ao Tanaka. And if the crowd favorites were able to retreat to the dressing room with considerable priority, they can thank their goalkeeper Keisuke Osako, who frustrated Jonathan David with a “penalty” in the 20th minute. Before half-time, Japan tripled their lead in three minutes thanks to an own goal from Alphonso Davies and a strike from Keito Nakamura.
“It’s disappointing to lose 4-1. We believe we deserve better,” Biello said at a press conference. We allowed weak goals. They took the lead very quickly at their home stadium and it was quite difficult. We improved in the first half, we put pressure on them and we took the penalty that we couldn’t take.”
After Tanaka’s second goal, David Hoilett avoided the humiliation of a shutout for his team by taking advantage of a return to the penalty area just before stoppage time.
“I think we need to play more of these games. We only grow from it. “The players have the opportunity to see that the spaces close quickly and that they use the spaces that we can give them,” analyzed the coach.
Choinière’s beginnings
Mathieu Choinière, CF Montreal’s standard-bearer, was also entitled to his first minutes with the senior team. He replaced Jonathan Osorio just after the hour mark. His teammate Samuel Piette played more than 60 minutes.
“They have worked very hard in training this week and are doing well at their respective clubs,” explained Biello about the day’s two debutants, Choinière and Harry Paton. To be able to take part in a match like this is a high level. They got a good idea of what to expect at this level. I’m glad they were able to play minutes and you know what, they contributed and allowed us to control the game a little better in the second half.
Canada, ranked 44th in FIFA, handed over the reins of the team to Biello at the end of August when his predecessor, John Herdman, was hired from Toronto FC. The country will attempt to qualify for the 2024 Copa America by playing a home-and-away series against a yet-to-be-determined nation in November.