Men’s U-20 Team
Friday, May 19, 2006
Canada Defeats Brazil in Edmonton
Hometown Boy Backstops
Canadian Win Over
Brazil
Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s U-20 National Team defeated Brazil 2:1 tonight in front of a boisterous crowd of 14,250 in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium. The historical win was the first by a Canadian men’s team over the footballing giants from South America at any age level.
The Brazilians looked very dangerous at times but seemed to lack the predatory instinct around the penalty area tonight. They also didn’t seem to have an answer for Will Johnson, and at times Jaime Peters, and more often than not, ran into a resilient Canadian defence that bent on occasion but in the end stood firm.
In the 20th minute Canada almost opened the scoring when Jaime Peters got the better of his defender on the right flank then drilled a low rasping cross toward the near post. Will Johnson managed to get a touch but his shot was well blocked by a Brazilian defender then scrambled away by the Brazilian defence.
But Canada’s central defender, David Edgar, was gifted the perfect birthday present when he started things rolling for the Canadians just before the half-hour mark. Johnson picked out the Newcastle-based defender, who was unmarked inside the area, and the Kitchener native side-footed a superb volley into the roof of the net for his first goal for Canada.
The Brazilians grabbed a goal back just before the hour mark through first half substitute Diogo. The young Brazilian, who replaced the highly touted Kerlon midway through the opening half, found himself with the ball at his feet around the penalty spot. Diogo took one touch to shift the ball from his right foot to his left then slammed his shot toward Asmir Begovic’s left post. The Edmonton-native managed to get a hand to the shot but could not prevent it from rolling over the line for the equalizer.
Ten minutes later though, Johnson would again have an impact – this time the Heerenveen striker would bring the Commonwealth crowd to its feet.
Peters again got the better of the Brazilian left-back then delivered a cross to the far post. A Brazilian defender was well positioned to clear but instead guided his header back into the area. Johnson reacted fastest and met the ball at the penalty spot. The young striker drilled his left footed shot past an outstretched Muriel to pull Canada ahead for good.
But the final twenty-five minutes did provide Canada’s head coach, Dale Mitchell, with some uneasy moments. The scariest coming five minutes before time when a ricochet off Begovic’s hand looked goal-bound but Mississauga-native Stephen Lumley raced to the ball and managed to hook if off the line to preserve the victory for Canada.
“The result is a fantastic one,” said Canadian head coach Dale Mitchell during the post-game press conference. “No matter what happens over the next two games of the series, you’ll never be able to take away the fact that these boys beat Brazil this evening.”
“The way the team played and the chances that we created in the second half made for a tremendous night of soccer in Edmonton. I am really proud of the way we performed.
“The people of Victoria who have tickets for Monday’s game should count themselves very lucky.”
Both Canada and Brazil depart Edmonton tomorrow and will meet again in two days in Victoria’s Centennial Stadium; then again on May 25th in Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium.
Thursday, May 19, 2006 - International Friendly
Commonwealth Stadium – Edmonton, AB
Attendance: 14,250
CANADA – 2 (1)
BRAZIL – 1 (0)
Goals: CANADA – Edgar (25), JOHNSON (65); BRAZIL – Diogo (54)
Cautions: - BOURGAULT (53)
Expulsions – none
CANADA: 1 - BEGOVIC, Asmir (C) ; 3-O’CONNOR, Kent; 4 - BOURGAULT, Jonathan; 5 - LUMLEY, Stephen; 6 - EDGAR, David; 7 - PETERS, Jaime; 8 - NUNEZ, Cristian (12 - BALDE, Ibrahim, 89); 9 - ELLIOTT, Alex (18 - GALA, Gabe, 61); 10 - JOHNSON, Will; 16 - JACKSON, Simeon (15 - LOMBARDO, Andrea, 90); 21 -OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy
Head Coach: Dale Mitchell (CAN)
Subs not used:; 13 - CONTRERAS, Hector;; 19 - D’AGOSTINO, Mike; 22 - MONSALVE, David
BRAZIL: 1 - Muriel Gustavo Becker (MURIEL); 2 - Leyrielton Moura de Moraes (LEYRIELTON) (14 - Antonio Cleilson da Silva Feitosa (AMARAL), 81); 3 - Edivelton Feliciano Moreira (CAÇAPA); 4 - Edson Henrique da Silva (EDSON); 5 - Nilton Ferreira Junior (NILTON) (15 - Fernando Franciso Regel (FERNANDO), 69); 6 - Carlos Eduardo Dutra Oliveira (CARLÃO); 7 - Junior Felício Marques (JI PARANÁ) (C); 8 - Taianan Imberê Linhares Welker (TAIANAN) (16 - Ramon Gonçalves (RAMON), 69); 9 - Luis Adriano de Souza da Silva (LUIS ADRIANO) (18 - Renato Carlos Martins Junior (RENATINHO), 69); 10 - Kerlon Moura Souza (KERLON) (17 - Diogo Luis Santo (DIOGO), 41); 11 - Alberto Antonio de Paula (BETO)
Head Coach: Nelson Rodrigues (BRA)
Subs not used: 12 - Elisson Aparecido Rosa (ELISSON); 13 - Anderson Luis de A.R. Marques (ANDERSON);
