Canada’s hopes of qualifying for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup may have taken a fatal blow on Monday, when the Canucks fell 2-1 to Cuba at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Forward Frank Lopez had both goals for Cuba, who entered Monday’s match with a 0-2-1 record and a negative-11 goal differential in the tournament thus far.
Canada (1-3-0, 3 points) now sit in fifth place in Group B, one point behind both Cuba. They must now hope for some help from other teams and win their final group stage match against third-place Honduras on Thursday to have any shot at qualifying for this summer’s U-20 World Cup.
- CONCACAF U-20 Championship: Full schedule, results and standings
The top team from each group at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship will automatically advance to this summer’s World Cup in New Zealand, while the second and third-place teams will enter a four-team playoff for the confederations final two World Cup spots.
Canada cannot finish first in Group B, but could catch Honduras or El Salvador for second or third if results break the right way.
If second-place El Salvador beat first-place Mexico and Honduras top group cellar dwellers Haiti later on Monday, however, Canada’s U-20 World Cup qualification hopes would be dashed.
Lopez put Cuba up early, taking advantage of a failed clearance from goalkeeper Nolan Wirth to score a fantastic goal in the fifth minute. A Cuba attacker deflected a Wirth clearance just outside the box, with the ball falling to Lopez 35 yards out. He calmly collected, chipping his effort over the backtracking Wirth and into the center of the net to put Cuba up 1-0.
Orlando City SC forward Cyle Larin had Canada’s best chance of the first half in the 25th minute, but the No. 1 overall selection in last week’s MLS SuperDraft couldn’t convert, sending an open header over the bar from the penalty spot.
Lopez doubled Cuba’s advantage in the 40th minute, heading midfielder Roberto Peraza’s cross inside the right post from 10 yards out.
Canada pulled one back in the 53rd minute. Vancouver Whitecaps academy defender Jackson Farmer collected a looping cross from Michael Petrasso in the right side of the box, smashing a 15-yard half-volley underneath Cuba ‘keeper Elier Pozo and into the back of the net.
Halftime substitute Toronto FC forward Jordan Hamilton should’ve equalized in the 57th minute, but sent a close-range header of Vancouver defender Sam Adekugbe’s cross over the bar at the back post.
Farmer had a good look in the 75th, collecting a ball at the top of the box and firing a low shot that a diving Pozo pushed around the left post.
Canada’s final chance came in the 79th, when Adekugbe tested Pozo with a low free kick that the Cuban ‘keeper parried away.
After closely watching the two remaining Group B matches on Monday night, Canada will return to action on Thursday, closing out the group stage in Montego Bay against Honduras (5:30 pm ET).
