Washington D.C.-For years the question of Canadian soccer was not a matter of if but when . When would Canada turn the page and become a power in CONCACAF? When will Canada make the World Cup again? Although these questions were not answered on Thursday some light was shed on the strides that the team has made in recent years. Thanks to an early goal and stout defending Canada held on to a 1-1 draw with Ghana at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.
Canadian defender Marcel de Jong opened up the match in the 30th minute with a 35 yard bullet. Ghana would respond shortly before the end of the first half with a goal from midfielder Adomah Albert.
Photo Credit: Jennifer-Jordan Harrell
Despite the two sides difference in FIFA World Rankings it was Canada that appeared to have the upper hand in the first half. Buoyed by the recent addition of Queens Park Rangers forward Junior Hoillet the Canadian attack hit at Ghana’s centralized defense. Interim Canadian head coach Michael Findlay’s 4-3-3 forced the Ghanaians out of their comfort zone with the passing of Hoillet and midfielder Kianz Froese being the catalyst.
Canada nearly took the lead in the 15th minute when Hoillet broke free of the Black Stars defense. His shot was on target but was ultimately saved by goalkeeper Razak Brimah. Faced with a collapsing Ghanaian defense on the edges the Cordoba net-minder was forced to make several difficult saves.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Jordan-Harrell
After overcoming early pressure placed on by the Canadian attack the Black Stars started to show life. Swansea City midfielder Jordan Ayew’s quick passes out to a surging Adomah Albert caught the Canadian defense off-guard in the 14th minute. Albert breezed past Canadian defender Adrian Hainault and hit a cross that was on target for forward David Accam but ultimately too high for the Chicago Fire forward.
Ghana would have another opportunity in the 25th minute when forward Bernard Mensah would hit a low driving free kick. His opportunity though would go wide of the mark.
With pressure mounting on their defense, Ghana would finally relent. In the 30th minute Canada would take the lead off of a 35 yard shot by defender Marcel De Jong. The Sporting Kansas City defender calmly chest-trapped off of a previous clear by the Ghanaian defense and proceeded to rip his shot from distance. The goal was De Jong’s third for Canada.
The Black Stars would equalize shortly before halftime with Ademoah once again getting past Hainault down the right flank. The Middlesborough midfielder would finish off a pass from Jordan Ayew and deliver his second-ever goal for Ghana.
In the second half Ghana opened up their attack by expanding the field. Captain Agyemang Badu led the charge with simple passes through the midfield meant to get the Canadian defense out of position. It was Badu who gave their best chance in the second half a short pass into Ayew who found midfielder Wakaso Mubarak in open space. Mubarak’s shot was on target but it was kicked away from danger by Canadian defender Sam Adekugbe.
New Canadian addition Junior Hoilett proved to be the difference-maker for Canada against Ghana (photo credit: Jennifer Jordan-Harrell)
The addition of Lloyd Sam into the Black Stars midfield provided additional problems for the Canadian defense. The New York Red Bulls right-midfielder delivered a dangerous cross in the 84th minute that D.C. United supporters at RFK Stadium know all too well. While his delivery was perfect the execution by Ghanaian forward Majeed Waris was not with his chance going wide.
Sam would give Ghana another opportunity to leave RFK Stadium with the victory in the 87th minute but once again Waris would miss his chance for the late-winner.
For Ghana, the draw pushes their winless streak to five matches. They will next play Malaysia on November the 13th.
Meanwhile for Canada the draw pushes their undefeated streak to four matches. It also provides them a boost heading into 2018 World Cup Qualification and their home tie against Honduras on November the 13th.
