U17 World Cup 2011: Canada Ties England, Keeper Scores Equalizer

Canada takes England by surprise with a 2:2 draw
Canadian goalkeeper Quillan Roberts was the hero, but not for his shot-stopping as much as his astonishing goal that gave Canada its first ever point at a FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Canadians had to come back twice from a goal down to earn the 2:2 draw.

A Blair Turgott wonder goal with just under 15 minutes to play had seemingly given England the win, but Roberts’ equaliser gave Canada the point. The draw came in Canada’s second match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011 at Estadio Hidalgo in Pachuca. Adam Morgan (England) and Sadi Jalali (Canada) scored early in the second half.

From the opening whistle, it took England just under 10 minutes to get pressure on the Canadian goal. Nathan Redmond was put in on the right side, but his cross rolled through the box. England then attacked just seconds later. Off a corner kick, Raheem Sterling’s well-struck shot was saved by Roberts, who was in for the injured Maxime Crépeau in the Canadian goal.

The pressure kept coming as the bulk of the half was spent in the Canadian end. While England able to get more pressure on the Canadian goal, Canada ended the half with some strong spells of possession on its own. Both sides, however, were unable to capitalize as it remained scoreless by the half.

It took less than a minute into the second half for England to jump out in front. After Yassin Essa had conceded a free-kick on the left, Nicholas Powell struck a cross into the Canadian 18-yard box. Despite having a Canadian defender right on his back, Morgan got the slightest flick onto the ball, sending it across the goal and past Roberts.

Four minutes after falling behind, Sadi Jalali levelled the game for Canada. After a Keven Aleman shot from outside the area was parried, Jalali followed in the shot and gave the Canadians their first goal of the tournament.

Turgott seemingly gave England the three points with just under 15 minutes remaining. After neither side created much in the way of chances, Turgott came into possession of the ball about 25 yards away from goal, cut the ball to his right and lashed a rocket of a shot past the Canadian goalkeeper who had dived to his left in vain to stop the shot.

The Canadian team showed resiliency and worked hard for the equaliser. It came eventually, albeit in an absolutely unbelievable fashion. Roberts launched a long ball that somehow bounced over the head of Jordan Pickford in the England goal. While it was England who was stunned, there was perhaps nobody more shocked than the Canadian goalkeeper, undoubtedly something he’ll never forget.

Apart from starting Roberts in goal, Canadian coach Sean Fleming used the same starting XI that featured against Uruguay. It featured Adam Polakiewicz at left back, Daniel Stanese and Luca Gasparotto at centre back, Parker Seymour at right back, and Michael Petrasso, Samuel Piette, Bryce Alderson, Yassin Essa, Keven Aleman and Sadi Jalali from the midfield up through to the attack.

After making no changes in the first half, Fleming replaced Petrasso with Christopher Nanco (72’), Piette in favour of Sergio Camargo (85’) and Alderson with Matteo Pasquotti (86’).

England’s starting XI had Jordan Pickford in goal, a back four of Matthew Regan on the left, Nathaniel Chalobah and Samuel Magri in the middle and Jordan Cousins on the right, John Lundstram, Raheem Sterling, Nicholas Powell and Jake Caskey in the midfield with Nathan Redmond and Adam Morgan in attack.

In the second half, coach John Peacock replaced Powell with Adam Clayton (59’), Lundstram with Blair Turgott (70’) and Redmond was replaced by Jack Dunn (81’).

The Canada-England match was played in front of 17,882 fans.