MEXICO CITY – It’s never easy for an opposing player to take the field with the hostile reception that the fans at Estadio Azteca are known to give.
But for backup Canadian goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos, it was all the more daunting to come on when he didn’t expect to play in Canada's 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss at Mexico.
Stamatopoulos, who plays with Sweden’s AIK, was forced to come on in the 41st minute when Milan Borjan picked up what is believed to be a broken bone in his hand. Apart from conceding Mexico’s second goal of the night eight minutes later, the veteran Canadian goalkeeper acquitted himself well in a platoon role.
“To be honest, I didn’t really have time to think about it,” said Stamatopoulos. “It was just a matter of going in and pulling off a performance. Even now, I don’t feel any nervousness before the game. It was just a matter of going in and holding the fort.”
The second goal of the night proved to be a body blow for the Canadian team as they put in an improved second half performance, but needing two goals at a tough venue like Azteca was always going to be a tall order for a team that doesn’t score many goals to begin with.
Stamatopoulos didn’t really move when the ball went to his right off the boot of Jesus Corona. The shot was very well placed from the edge of the penalty area and Stamatopoulos really didn’t have a chance to stop it.
“Unfortunately, I only saw it when it went past me,” Stamatopoulos said. “There were a lot of bodies in front of me. I heard it went through a couple of legs and really didn’t see it.”
With the extent of Borjan’s injury still unknown at this time, it’s still far too early to know whether Stamatopoulos will be called upon for Canada’s last two games of the group stage in September.
But after watching Canada’s somewhat shaky performance in a 3-0 loss in Vancouver last Friday night and then being involved in a more organized performance on Tuesday, Stamatopoulos is encouraged by his team, regardless of who’s in goal.
“I think the second half I think we did really well. We held our shape,” he said. “If we bring this to the next game in Honduras, I think we’ll do very well.”
