Canada and Guadeloupe trade own goals in Group C stalemate

June 28 - For 20 minutes it looked like Canada's blushes and coach John Herdman's cheek were spared in their Gold Cup opener against preliminary-round qualifiers Guadeloupe .

It wasn't. The Canadians canceled out the 2-1 advantage given them an own goal from Guadeloupe with an own goal to make it 2-2. It was ultimately a fair result but if Guadeloupe hadn't tired in the last quarter, Canada's embarrassment could have been greater.

Canada have been Concacaf's next big thing for four years, everyone's favorite team to watch and kudos for their resurgence to the top of their regional tree.

In front of a home crowd in Toronto, the first time the Gold Cup had traveled to Canada since 2015, the opportunity was to kick off a race for a title that this team badly needs to prove it's not about not just talking. < /p>

Herdman at the Nations League in Las Vegas said his team was on the verge of something "very special", but the final against the United States was a poor performance, and far from something special.

His answer for the Gold Cup was to show up with just 12 players out of a 23-player squad in Las Vegas. Only four of the players started in Toronto who were in the starting XI in the final which Canada lost 2-0 in Vegas. It felt like a gamble, it also smacks of arrogance and disrespect towards the competition, Canada's growing fanbase and other Concacaf nations.

On social media, Herdman has been roasted for his selection and the non-appearance of key players like Alphonse Davies, Jonathan David and Cyle Larin. He clearly thought the players he brought would be enough to get the job done - they weren't.

Guadeloupe, who had already played twice in the last 10 days in the preliminary group stage qualifiers, were fired up and ready to surprise.

Did Herdman's team selection fail?

By the 23rd minute, Guadeloupe were in the lead. A Richie Laryea foul on Matthias Phaeton saw the free kick find its way to Jordan Leborgne who slipped a pass for Ambrose to finish.

Canada was suddenly in a fight for its life, but was matched pound for pound by a Guadeloupe side who were just as happy to have the ball and play.

The Canadians showed a glimpse of their ability in the second half and in the 50th minute they equalized. Lucas Cavallini started a movement from the middle, pushing the ball wide towards Junior Hoilett, who crossed the box for an incoming Cavallini. It was the best football of the evening.

With 20 minutes remaining, Ali Ahmed, who had been one of the brightest Canadian talents on the show, found space to put Richie Laryea on, but an attempted interception by Meddy Lina only served to push the ball into his own goal.

It was a cruel moment for the Guadeloupeans who were starting to look increasingly tired from their efforts in the preliminary round.

As the clock ticked into the third of five minutes of added time, Johan Rotsen crossed the ball to Nathanael Saintini who headed for Ambrose. He hit a low cross that was deflected by Canada's Jacen Russell Rowe -2-2.

Honors even, but for Herdman it was a major missed opportunity to show his adopted country what his team could do amid all the noise of federation turmoil and turmoil. player compensation. There are plenty of questions for Herdman to answer and little time to strike a happy balance on and off the pitch before Canada meet Guatemala in Houston on July 1.

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