The Problem Is The Old Weaknesses

By Benjamin Massey Eight Six Forever

Canada – St. Kitts Post-Game: A Quality Win Which Promises Nothing
Today is a good day to be an optimist. The Canadian national team beat St. Kitts and Nevis handily, 4-0, at BMO Field. Dwayne De Rosario tied Dale Mitchell’s record as the all-time leading scorer in Canadian men’s national team history. There was an early scare when Ian Lake thwacked a shot off Kenny Stamatopoulos’s goalpost but for the most part Canada was well in control. By the end of the game the St. Kitts players, particularly goalkeeper Akil Byron, were visibly decomposing; frustrated and heart-broken, they were playing soccer and looking for their goals (to their credit) but quickly gave into petulant, late tackles, pantomime fighting displays, and aimless runs with the ball as far as they could go as if they were too disheartened to try and beat Canada at their own game.

Some fringe Canadians showed very well. Tosaint Ricketts got his first start for his country and was an endless thorn in St. Kitts’s side: generating dangerous chances with his speed and footwork, drawing a penalty, and eventually scoring another garbage time goal. Adam Straith and David Edgar (one ugly turnover aside) continued to impress, while Nik Ledgerwood beat (modest) expectations at right back. On the other hand, Dwayne De Rosario continues to look completely out of his depth in any international competition, the erratic Josh Simpson looked worse, and Patrice Bernier seemed old, tired, and not quite up to this level anymore. Canada’s team defense continued to look pretty good except when it gave up sudden awful chances that will presumably burn us against decent opposition.

It was a generic good game. So no, I do not suddenly think that we’re going to qualify for the hex. My pessimism remains unabated and I’ll tell you why.

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