সোমবার, ৮ জুলাই, ২০১৩

Golden moment for minnows

The game was already a disaster for Canada before stoppage time, with Martinique ? sometimes pronounced by its full name: not even a FIFA member, Martinique ? dominating one of the Gold Cup?s three automatic entrants. Though Canada were keeping more of the ball, they were also on their way to being outshot 27-8 by the French island?s team.

Then came stoppage time, when 37-year-old Fabrice Reupern? launched a rocket from 25 yards, one that may have doomed Canada?s chances of being one of the eight teams that advance from the 12-nation opening round. Just before the 93-minute mark, a left-footed volley of a clearance bounding out of the Canadian area gave goalkeeper Milan Borjan no chance to prevent a shocking opener to this year?s Gold Cup:

Martinique may have only have a population of around 403,000, but nine of their squad?s 23 players make their living off the island, playing in leagues such as France?s Ligue 1 (K?vin Olimpia), Ligue 2 (Olivier Thomert), Spain?s Segunda Division (Jean-Sylvain Babin, Gr?gory Arnolin), England?s League One (Yoann Arquin), and Major League Soccer (Fr?d?ric Piquionne). While that doesn?t necessarily make them a great side, it does speak to the implied notion that something named Martinique can?t field a decent squad.

All the same, Canada didn?t just lose to Martinique. This wasn?t an against the run of play, one-off goal that made the final score uncharacteristic of how the game was played. The Canadians were decidedly second best, a humbling experience for a team that, while having struggled in recent World Cup qualifying campaigns, has a paved road into this competition.

Compounding the embarrassment: This result puts Canada on track to finish last in Group A. Without an upset over Mexico or Panama, Canada?s going home after three games, with a history set to reflect they not only lost to Martinique, they finished behind them in Group Play.

Source: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/07/canada-loses-to-martinique-in-gold-cup-opener/related/

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