Earthquakes 2005 Honda Most Valuable Player Dwayne De Rosario started and played 90 minutes in the midfield for the Canadian national team on Wednesday night, helping Canada to a 1-0 victory over Luxembourg in an international friendly at Stade Alphonse Theis in Hesperange, Luxembourg.
De Rosario registered the assist on Canada's lone goal in the 69th minute, collecting a ball in the middle of the field and quickly advancing toward the Luxembourg defense. The MLS MVP runner-up found Ian Hume on the left side and the striker sped into the Luxembourg penalty area. Hume outwaited the advancing Luxembourg keeper and just as the netminder committed, Hume chipped a shot over him and into the side netting.
Former Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop (2001-2003) led Canada to the win, as De Rosario and the Canadians will be back in action on March 1, 2006 in an international friendly against Austria. The match will be played at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna, Austria.
De Rosario finished his best season in MLS by being named to the RadioShack Best XI team and finishing runner-up in the Honda MLS MVP race. His October 15 goal against the Los Angeles Galaxy was voted at the Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Year. It is the second straight year that the 27-year old from Scarborough, Ontario earned that honor.
For Canada, De Rosario has now earned 35 caps and scored seven goals in his national team career, including four goals in World Cup qualifying. This year, De Rosario played for Canada in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July. His national team career began in 1998.
