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Photo Credit: Canada Soccer
Promise Shown: Canada Falls Against Switzerland, But Advances To World Cup Knockouts
By In a clash to determine top spot in Group B, Canada and Switzerland played out a spirited match, though two Swiss goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half proved too much for the Canadians to overcome.
One change in the midfield was already forecast, with Nathan Saliba coming in for the injured Ismaël Koné, but Stephen Eustáquio’s absence was a surprise. The midfield tempo setter seemed to shrug off a missed training session earlier in the week, but was left out of the starting lineup. Jesse Marsch called it precautionary. Mathieu Choinière was his replacement.
Canada wanted to start quickly – Saliba fakes backwards on the kickoff, instead plays to Choinière, but Switzerland had a plan of their own, counter the Canadian energy with possession. Where Canada struggled to connect passes, Switzerland were playing through the press with ease.
The best moment for Canada in the first ten minutes was sighting Koné on the sidelines, urging his side on as the fans offered their support to ‘8’ placards around the stadium.
The first chance came their way, Maxime Crépeau repaying Jesse Marsch’s faith in him as he stayed big to block a shot from Breel Embolo, playing in by a defense splitting pass from Ricardo Rodríguez. Derek Cornelius was sharp to block the follow up from Johan Manzambi.
Canada responded with Cyle Larin in clear, rounding the goalkeeper, who got a key touch to the ball. That the plays was offside, yet allowed to play on, riled up the Swiss bench. Marsch too was fired up on the touchlines, displeased at how ineffective the Canadian press was in practice. Not only were Switzerland passing circles around the pressure, but they were playing through lines, exploiting the space in behind with long passes for willing runners.
A brief flare up saw both Granit Xhaka and Larin booked, Larin kicked away the ball as Xhaka followed through. Whether it was that, or Marsch message during the hydration break, Canada were better in the latter stages of the first half. Larin, played into space by Jonathan David on the left, tested Gregor Kobel with a curling effort. Ali Ahmed did the same just before the break, again David the final pass of a dangerous move to find him in space on the left, but his attempt was weak.
Canada caught after the restart a little slow on a few plays and the ball is in the back of the net from Rubén Vargas. Unmarked at the back-post, Vargas smashes a right-footer past Crépeau after a Manzambi cross from the right squeezed through a crowd.
As Marsch started to think of going to his bench, Switzerland made it two in the 57th minute. Luc de Fougerolles and Cornelius could not handle the power of Embolo, as he held up play before laying off to Manzambi arriving into the right side of the box. Similarly, his driven shot was too much for Crépeau to handle, the Canadian keeper getting a piece, but not enough to prevent it bobbling over the line.
The return of Eustáquio made an immediate difference, Canada were stringing together passes, crafting chances. Their best came in the 68th minute when Liam Millar swung a ball in from the left for David. His touch to collect was exquisite, as was the patience to make space to shoot, but Nico Elvedi read his intention, arriving with a timely block.
Canada continued to ratchet up the pressure, drawing the crowd back into the match. They had been kept quiet by the Swiss game plan, aside from the occasional chorus of boos, such as when Manzambi stayed down, prompting Eustáquio to play out and halt the action.
Promise David seconds after coming on, with his first touch, redirected a cross box pass from Saliba into the waiting net. BC Place came alive. The long pass from de Fougerolles was excellent, but the touch from Saliba to control and set up his teammate was even more so. Canada were within one, it was ‘game on’ in the final 15 minutes.
A 91st minute cross from Alistair Johnston that Cornelius, stretching as much as possible, could only get the slightest of contact, sending it wide. A long throw from Johnston, flicked on by Promise with a back header, was pounced on by the Swiss keeper. Johnston got on the end of a Jacob Shaffelburg cross in the 96th minute, catching it sweetly, but sent his header too close to Kobel. And the Swiss keeper was quick to react when he spilled a late ball at the feet of Cornelius.
With the victory, Switzerland take over top spot in the group, Canada are forced to settle for second and miss out on the opportunity to stay on home turf in Vancouver.
In the other Group B match, played simultaneously in Seattle, Bosnia defeated Qatar 3-1 to wrap up third place.
