Following Friday’s 3-0 loss against Mexico in Vancouver, the Canadian Men’s National Team is once again taking on the Mexican team in a 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifier this Tuesday, at the mythical Estadio Azteca.
Impact fans know that leaving Azteca with your head held high is quite the task. On April 22, 2015, Montreal led Club América, 1-0, for 72 minutes before Oribe Peralta scored a late equalizer.
The players thus have an idea of what the Canadian team should expect this Tuesday. And they know that it’s certainly not mission impossible.
“The team will have to be as organized as it was against Honduras or El Salvador,” said Patrice Bernier, who has scored two goals and notched five assists in 53 caps for Canada. “Taking advantage of counters will be crucial. We’re hoping for a win, but a point would preserve the lead over Honduras and El Salvador. It’s possible if you get there in a good state of mind, you follow the game plan and you stay organized. We got a 1-1 result there by sticking together and taking our openings. It can be done. They’ll have the ball. It’s about not giving them the kind of spaces they had last Friday.”
In 10 games at the Azteca, Canada’s record stands at two wins, five losses and three ties. The two Canadian wins came during the 1977 CONCACAF Championship, against… Suriname and Guatemala.
The Mexico City arena has not been welcoming to the Canadian Men’s National team. But the bigger the challenge, the more satisfying the achievement. The Montreal players thus fervently hope to see their fellow Canadians return home from Mexico with a smile on their faces.
“You have to adapt to the air quality and the altitude over there, but what we did well against America is we waited for them at the halfway line and then defended well,” said Maxim Tissot, who has won eight caps for the senior team. “Canada can do the same thing. Playing intelligently is a must. The players know what to expect. I spoke to Samuel Piette, and the guys have moved on from Friday’s game. Tomorrow, it’s a totally different game.”
Mexico has grabbed nine points from its first three games, while Canada has won once, lost once and tied once for four points. El Salvador (0-2-1, 2 pts) and Honduras (0-1-2, 1 pt) are third and fourth in the group respectively. The teams that come in first and second are qualified for the fifth and last round of qualifying.
