Canada was left questioning what might need been after a 2-0 loss to top-ranked Argentina that noticed the Canadian males unable to convert high quality scoring probabilities.
The Forty eighth-ranked underdogs held the star-studded South Americans scoreless within the first half of Thursday’s Copa America opener but conceded a Julian Alvarez aim early within the second.
Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau saved Canada within the sport with a string of spectacular saves, stopping an onrushing Lionel Messi twice and saving a free kick from the Argentine captain.
But Messi obtained the final chortle with a excellent go that discovered substitute Lautaro Martinez behind the defence and the Inter Milan ahead deftly slid the ball underneath an onrushing Crepeau for an insurance coverage aim within the 88th minute.
Canada coach Jesse Marsch admitted his aspect “let this game slip away from us.” But he took positives from it too, when mixed with a scoreless draw with No. 2 France and 4-0 loss to the seventh-ranked Dutch in high-profile friendlies earlier this month.
“We’ve learned a lot from it. Mostly we learned that we can play. We can play with these teams,” mentioned Marsch, who took over the team on May 13.
The Canadians didn’t look misplaced in a fast-paced, entertaining sport. But they appeared to rush their moments in assault and couldn’t convert in entrance of a massive, vocal crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the overwhelming majority cheering for Messi and Argentina.
Marsch’s gamers expressed disappointment.
“It’s a disappointing result,” mentioned captain Alphonso Davies. “We need to look at what we did wrong throughout the game and fix it as soon as possible.”
“We went after the game. We had our chances,” added vice-captain Stephen Eustaquio.
Canada bent but didn’t break in a scoreless first half and saved Messi underneath management, though each contact from the Inter Miami star appeared harmful. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez had to make an acrobatic save to block a Eustaquio header off a Cyle Larin cross simply earlier than halftime.
Argentina went forward within the forty ninth minute with Messi threading a harmful ball into the Canada penalty field. Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister obtained to it first but couldn’t corral it and the ball squibbed to Alvarez, who had an open aim in entrance of him.
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The Manchester City ahead got here shut to scoring once more a minute later but was denied by Crepeau.
Messi virtually made it 2-0 within the sixty fifth, despatched in alone by a high quality clearance from Emiliano Martinez. But Crepeau blocked his shot and Messi’s second try deflected off a defender.
Jonathan David virtually had the equalizer for Canada quickly after, but his header went over the bar.
Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela, after session with the video assistant referee, opted not to award Canada a penalty within the seventieth minute when substitute Jacob Shaffelburg went down.
A sliding Larin, with an Argentine defender crowding him, couldn’t poke the ball residence within the seventy fifth minute. Messi simply missed minutes later, together with his delicate chip over Crepeau flashing simply broad of the publish.
Canada now heads to Kansas City to face No. 31 Peru on Tuesday earlier than finishing Group A play June 29 in opposition to No. 40 Chile in Orlando.
The 16-country event options 10 groups from South America and 6 visitor sides from CONCACAF, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Argentina is now 14-1-0 document since profitable the World Cup in Qatar in December 2022, outscoring the opposition 32-4. The lone blemish was a 2-0 loss to Uruguay in World Cup qualifying play final November.
Canada is 6-5-4 since Qatar, with a kind of ties turning into a penalty shootout loss to the U.S. at the Gold Cup.
MGM had underdog Canada at 9.00 to win prior to kickoff, that means a $10 wager would return $80 in revenue. Argentina was 1.32, that means a $10 wager would return $3.20 in revenue.
It’s the primary Copa look for the Canadian males.
Argentina has gained the South American title 15 occasions, tied with Uruguay for many event wins, and completed runner-up 14 occasions. The Argentines defeated Brazil 1-0 within the 2021 closing in Rio de Janeiro.
Davies, Derek Cornelius, Moise Bombito and Alistair Johnston manned the Canada defence. Eustaquio was joined within the midfield by Ismael Kone, Tajon Buchanan and Liam Millar with David and Larin up entrance.
It was the identical lineup that Marsch used in opposition to France.
The Argentine beginning 11 featured 5 gamers from England’s Premier League, three from Spain’s La Liga, one from Italy’s Serie A, one from Portugal’s prime flight and Major League Soccer’s Messi.
Messi set a event document by making his thirty fifth look in Copa America play.
Argentina has not misplaced to a CONCACAF team at the event since 2004 when it was overwhelmed 1-0 by Mexico.
Canada and Argentina had met simply as soon as earlier than at the senior stage, with the South Americans profitable 5-0 in May 2010 in Buenos Aires within the Argentines’ closing sport earlier than the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Angel Di Maria, now 36, performed in each video games, scoring his first aim for Argentina within the 2010 match with a highlight-reel swerving shot. Former Argentina star Sergio Aguero, who additionally scored in that 2010 assembly, introduced out the Copa America trophy earlier than kickoff Wednesday.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Canada’s Victor Montagliani, who doubles as CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president, have been among the many dignitaries shaking the gamers’ palms earlier than kickoff.
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