CANADA VS. PUERTO RICO
International Friendly
Monday, March 30, 7:30 pm ET
Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Fresh off their first win of 2015, Canada are looking for another satisfying result in their final match before World Cup qualifying begins.
Benito Floro’s side edged past Guatemala 1-0 on Friday to remain unbeaten against CONCACAF opponents since Floro took over in August 2013. The visit to Puerto Rico will provide the Canadian team with a good geographical preview of what to expect in their first set of World Cup qualifiers, in which they’ll travel to Dominica, who beat the British Virgin Islands.
But Puerto Rico will come prepared to Monday’s friendly, given that it’s also their final tune-up match before World Cup qualifying. While Puerto Rico – No. 160 in the most recent FIFA rankings – won’t provide Canada with the sternest test of the year, Canadian soccer history has proven that overlooking any opponent would be foolhardy.
After fielding a veteran-heavy starting lineup against Guatemala, Floro must decide whether to start some of the youngsters he’s brought to camp. As Canada look to gain experience – and hopefully, points – on the road in CONCACAF, Floro will have to decide what players would benefit most from that experience?
HISTORY
Canada and Puerto Rico have met just twice, with both matches coming during the early stages of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Canada notched a 3-0 win in Bayamon on Sept. 6, 2011, with a pair of goals from Tosaint Ricketts and Iain Hume. A month later, on Oct. 11, Puerto Rico escaped Toronto’s BMO Field with a 0-0 draw.
Canada won that four-team group – which also included Saint Lucia and St. Kitts & Nevis – to advance, while Puerto Rico was eliminated at that stage.
CANADA OUTLOOK
Determining the “outlook” for Canada depends largely on how far into the recent past you’d care to go.
Canada have racked up decent results in its past six games, dating back to September 2014, with two wins (Jamaica, Guatemala), two draws (Panama, Iceland) and two narrow-but-encouraging losses (Colombia, Iceland). Those two wins, however, represent the team’s only two victories in its last 22 games – a period that included a horrifying 2013 in which Canada scored just once in 13 games.
But it’s likely no coincidence that the team has begun to look more cohesive and organized as time has gone by, with the experienced Floro having more time to put his stamp on the squad. A positive result against Puerto Rico would be just what Canada need ahead of a busy and important 2015.
World Cup qualifying begins in June and, if all goes according to plan, continues in September and November. Sandwiched in between is the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will have extra importance this year with spots in the 2016 Copa America Centenario on the line.
To convince their fans that they have a decent shot in those official matches, Canada will need to first earn a result down in Puerto Rico.
PUERTO RICO OUTLOOK
Puerto Rico also have World Cup qualifying on the horizon, as they jump into the fray in the June international window with a home-and-away tie against Grenada.
The Puerto Ricans will be looking to avenge their most recent result against Grenada, which came in a Caribbean Cup qualifier on Sept. 7, 2014. Leading 2-1 at home, Puerto Rico conceded in the 85th minute to finish at 2-2, a result that knocked them out of contention for the Caribbean Cup. That, in turn, knocked them out of contention for this summer’s Gold Cup.
For a team that plays as infrequently as Puerto Rico does – they’ve played just three times since the start of 2013 – every game matters. Head coach Carlos Avedissian’s side will be looking to make a strong statement on home soil against the Canadians.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Canada – Maxim Tissot. The 22-year-old native of Gatineau, Quebec is primed to make an impact (sorry, no pun intended – really) for both club and country this year. He debuted for Canada during January’s friendlies against Iceland and had an important role to play – his run into the opposing area earned a penalty, ultimately converted by teammate Dwayne De Rosario.
The versatile defender/midfielder has made 27 league appearances and scored three times for the Montreal Impact since graduating from their academy in 2013. He was also one of the few youngsters to get the start against Guatemala on Friday. With Floro still in the process of rebuilding the national team, Tissot will be looking to stake his claim as a core member of the Canadian setup going forward.
Puerto Rico – Hector Ramos. One of the few members of the side who ply their trade outside of Puerto Rico – he joined Isidro Metapan in El Salvador – the 24-year-old has racked up an impressive strike rate for both club and country.
He has 23 goals in 34 appearances for Metapan, on top of 13 goals in 24 appearances for Puerto Rico. With that output, he is already the top scorer in the history of the Puerto Rican national team. Oh yeah, did we mention he's 24?
ROSTERS
Canada
GOALKEEPERS (3): Milan Borjan (FK Radnicki Nis), Quillan Roberts (Toronto FC), Kenny Stamatopoulos (AIK)
DEFENDERS (8): Luca Gasparotto (Rangers FC, on loan at Airdrieonians), Dejan Jakovic (Shimizu S-Pulse), Manjrekar James (Pecsi MFC), Karl W. Ouimette (New York Red Bulls), Marcel de Jong (Sporting Kansas City), David Edgar (Birmingham City FC, on loan at Huddersfield Town), Tyler Pasher (Pittsburgh Riverhounds), Jonathan Grant (Sigma FC)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Nik Ledgerwood (Energie Cottbus), Maxim Tissot (Montreal Impact), Kyle Bekker (FC Dallas), Julian de Guzman (Ottawa Fury FC), Randy Edwini-Bonsu (Stuttgarter Kickers), Simeon Jackson (Coventry City), Christopher Mannellla (Toronto FC), Samuel Piette (Deportivo la Coruña), Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps)
FORWARDS (3): Tosaint Ricketts (Hapoel Haifa), Marcus Haber (Crewe Alexandra), Cyle Larin (Orlando City SC)
Puerto RIco
GOALKEEPERS (2): Matt Sanchez (Loyola University), Jose Arroyo (Bayamon FC)
DEFENDERS (6): Joan Morales (Criollos FC), Felix Dawson (Universidad del Turabo), Javier Lalondriz (Criollos FC), Alexis Rivera (Bayamon FC), Jayson Concepcion (Don Bosco), Alberto Montesino (Guayama FC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Juan Coca (Kultsu FC), Alex Oikonnen (Kultsu FC), Andres Perez (Libre), Deniz Bokurt (Libre), Andres Cabrero (Criollos FC), Michael Fernandez (Criollos FC), Christian Cantero (Criollos FC)
FORWARDS (5): Hector "Pito" Ramos (Isidro Metapan), Joseph "Jackie" Marrero (Criollos FC), Pedro Rosado (Criollos FC), Lemuel Salamo (Bayamon FC), Jose Perez (Universidad del Turabo)
