Canada’s lack of sharpness, set-piece defending costing them at Gold Cup

The Canadian males’s soccer crew was alleged to cruise by the group stage of the Concacaf Gold Cup. Instead, it finds itself in a state of peril on the continental competitors. 

John Herdman’s aspect didn’t have a lot to rejoice on Canada Day after settling for a 0-0 draw in opposition to Guatemala on a scorching and sticky night time earlier than a predominately pro-Guatemalan crowd inside Houston’s Shell Energy Stadium. 

The Canadians sit third in Group D with two factors from their opening pair of matches, whereas Guatemala and Guadeloupe have 4 factors apiece. Cuba is on the backside of the desk with no factors. Only the group’s prime two nations advance to the quarter-finals. 

Canada now faces a must-win scenario in opposition to Cuba on Tuesday in Houston, as something lower than a victory means it’ll bow out of the match — and a win won’t be sufficient for the Reds, relying on what occurs in Tuesday’s match between Guatemala and Guadeloupe. 

“We know what our destiny is. We’ve got to win this third match, push the goal difference, and take our country to the quarter-finals,” Herdman mentioned after the sport. 

Canada is coming off an look within the closing of final month’s Concacaf Nations League, and is forty fifth within the present FIFA rankings. By distinction, Guatemala is 116th, Cuba is 166th and Guadeloupe is unranked (it’s not an official member of FIFA). 

Here are the three main takeaways from Saturday’s match between Canada and Guatemala.  

Lack of sharpness by Canada within the closing third 

Canada lacked cohesion and a innovative within the closing third of the pitch throughout its 2-2 draw in opposition to Guadeloupe in Toronto in its opening match of the group stage. Aside from Junior Hoilett’s good run and stylish cross to arrange Lucas Cavallini’s objective, there have been few attacking moments of real high quality for the Canadians, who wanted an own-goal to take the lead within the second half.  

Herdman is with out a few of his most notable European-based gamers at this match, together with Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Jonathan David (Lille), Tajon Buchanan (Club Brugge) and all-time prime scorer Cyle Larin (Real Valladolid). Those absences, partly, led to an uninspired attacking efficiency in opposition to Guadeloupe. 

That theme continued on Saturday for the embattled Canadians, who produced simply three pictures on the right track, none of which critically examined Guatemalan goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen. There was some first rate buildup play from Canada, however its lack of high quality and execution round Guatemala’s 18-yard field was its undoing on the night time. The Reds didn’t earn a nook kick till the 63rd minute, which supplies you an concept of how a lot hassle that they had penetrating and getting in behind Guatemala’s again line. 

Unable to pry open a Guatemalan defence that was compact and arranged, Canada resorted to hitting crosses into the field within the hope that it will result in one thing. More usually than not it didn’t, as too many balls have been both under- or over-hit. The service into striker Lucas Cavallini from large areas was poor — Canada linked on simply 4 of its 28 crosses into the field. 

“It’s that lack of quality we are missing. Too many times we got into that area and didn’t deliver the quality we are used to. We’ve got to work on that,” Herdman instructed reporters after the sport. 

.acf-block-preview .br-video-thumbnail::earlier than {
content material: “”;
place: absolute;
prime: 45%;
left: 50%;
remodel: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-moz-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-ms-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-o-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-webkit-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
width: 20px;
top: 0px;
border-top: 14px stable clear;
border-left: 22px stable #fff;
border-bottom: 14px stable clear;
margin-left: 3px;
}

Opponents’ set items nonetheless giving Canada issues 

Defending on set items has been the demise of Canada courting again to final 12 months’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.  

Against the U.S. in final month’s Concacaf Nations League closing, the Americans opened the scoring off set piece of their 2-0 win in Las Vegas. Gio Reyna’s nook kick into the field wasn’t correctly handled by Canada, and Chris Richards managed to out-jump Canadian defender Alistair Johnston and join on a strong header that slipped beneath goalkeeper Milan Borjan. Against Guadeloupe, the Canadians conceded an own-goal deep into damage time after failing to clear its strains off a nook kick. 

Canada didn’t concede off of any set items on Saturday, however coping with lifeless ball conditions stays an issue. Guatemala ought to have taken a 1-0 lead within the first half after Jose Ardon bumped into the Canadian field unchecked and linked on a free header. Canada was lucky that the Guatemalan fullback despatched his try large, although he had a transparent look on objective from eight yard out. 

The proven fact that no Canadian participant even picked up Ardon, or that Hoilett, a veteran winger, was relatively lackadaisical in maintaining with the Guatemalan fullback after the nook kick got here in, must be regarding for Herdman. Canada was fortunate to not go down a objective on that play. If it manages to advance to the knockout spherical it gained’t be so fortunate, as the upper calibre of opposition will ensure that to punish Canada in such conditions. 

.acf-block-preview .br-video-thumbnail::earlier than {
content material: “”;
place: absolute;
prime: 45%;
left: 50%;
remodel: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-moz-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-ms-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-o-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-webkit-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
width: 20px;
top: 0px;
border-top: 14px stable clear;
border-left: 22px stable #fff;
border-bottom: 14px stable clear;
margin-left: 3px;
}

Richie Laryea continues to shine for Canada  

Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea has quietly develop into one in all Canada’s most vital gamers during the last 12 months and half. 

The Toronto FC fullback was a key determine for the Canadians throughout their latest World Cup qualifying cycle, and he performed in all three group stage video games in Qatar (with two begins). Laryea, a 28-year-old native of Toronto, has began in Canada’s final 4 matches, enjoying the complete 90 minutes in every of them. 

His greatest efficiency got here on Saturday in Houston, because the TFC speedster was the main shiny spot for an underwhelming Canadian aspect along with his stellar efficiency on either side of the ball. 

Deployed as a wingback in opposition to Guatemala, Laryea used his tempo to bomb ahead in assault whereas additionally monitoring again to supply very important protection in serving to Canada’s trio of centre backs defend. Laryea and midfielder Ali Ahmed, who earned his first cap in opposition to Guadeloupe, constructed upon on the excellent chemistry that they had in Canada’s opening match by successfully linking up down the best aspect. Canada’s greatest attacking moments got here by way of the best flank, particularly in transitional moments. 

When Zachary Brault-Guillard was subbed on within the eightieth minute, Laryea performed as a centre again and helped Canada lock issues down defensively whereas a surging Guatemala aspect seemed to attain a late winner. 

Laryea completed the sport by profitable all eight defensive duels he was concerned in, accomplished 92.1 per cent of his passes (solely Jonathan Osorio, at 93.3, had a greater passing price for Canada) and registered a game-high three tackles. 

John Molinaro is likely one of the main soccer journalists in Canada, having coated the sport for over 20 years for a number of media shops, together with Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is at the moment the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, an internet site devoted to in-depth protection of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. TFC Republic will be discovered right here.

More from Sportsnet

Canada ties Guatemala, has again in opposition to wall in Gold Cup after second straight draw

Canadian Soccer Business defends take care of Canada Soccer amid risk of chapter

.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper {
show: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
hole: 20px;
}

.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper a {
pointer-events: none;
cursor: default;
text-decoration: none;
coloration: black;
}