HOUSTON A gutted Canada exited the Gold Cup on Thursday, sent home by a heartbreaking 99th-minute goal in a 2-1 loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF tournament semifinal.
But the young Canadian side sent a powerful message in defeat, demonstrating it is a team to be reckoned with in the region that covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.
“I’m proud of the lads but broken inside to be honest .. It’s tough to take, in the last minute,” said Canada coach John Herdman. “We’re feeling it.”
Hector Herrera’s goal deep in stoppage time was the coup de grace in a game that seemed destined to go to extra time. Instead Mexico will head to Las Vegas to face the U.S. in Sunday’s championship game.
FT: Canada 1-2 Mexico Gold Cup semifinal game thread, preview & how to watch
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Live Match Thread
90+4’ BIG SAVE from Maxime Crepeau! He turns away a point-blank header. Wow.
90’ Game getting back underway here. Seven minutes of added time.
88’ Embarrassing.
Game paused due to the chant. There was a warning in the first half. Mexican players visibly frustrated. #CanMNT Oliver Platt (@plattoli) July 30, 2021
77’ CHANCE! Buchanan sets up Corbeanu, who almost bends one in far post. That would have been special. Liam Fraser checking into the game now for MAK.
69’ Theo Corbeanu is checking into the game for Tesho Akindele. Here we go.
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“We had a big win against Costa Rica. We had a good performance against the U.S. (a 1-0 loss) in this tournament,” he said in a virtual media availability. “But we know that that one next step further for this country would be to tip the Mexicans up. If we could do that, I think it’ll be a huge celebration back home.”
“One thing we do know is it’s not going to be an easy night. It never is against Mexico,” he added.
But this is a vastly improved Canadian squad. And one that will be even better in the future when the likes of Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Atiba Hutchinson, Milan Borjan, Scott Arfield, Cyle Larin and Ayo Akinola are all healthy and available.
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