Late goal gives Canadian men's soccer team 2-2 tie with Bahrain in World Cup warmup
CBC
Missing some of its top talent, Canada tied Bahrain 2-2 on an 81st-minute own goal in a World Cup warmup match Friday.
After Bahrain pulled ahead in the 65th minute from the penalty spot, it paid for failing to clear the ball. Substitute Zachary Brault-Guillard sent in a low cross that bounced off forward Lucas Cavallini's leg and a defender, deflecting into the Bahrain goal.
It was eventually ruled an own goal, rather than No. 18 for the burly Vancouver Whitecap striker, who did seem to do a little dance to get his leg onto the ball. But it then hit the defender next to him.
Ismael Kone scored Canada's opening goal.
"A very good test and the sort of test we needed," Canada coach John Herdman said. "We knew Bahrain were going to treat this like a big match and they brought a real intensity.
"It's what we needed to just shake off some of the rust and for me to be able to assess some players at this level. I think what we learned is there were some good moments but there's still some work to be done. We've got to get the team into some cohesion and get them back into that match rhythm."
WATCH | Canada forces draw with Bahrain:
Herdman will soon be getting reinforcements.
He did not have his full squad for the Bahrain game, with almost all of his European-based players still in action with their clubs. They will be released after weekend matches with those selected to the World Cup roster heading to Doha.
Canada will announce its World Cup roster on Sunday with Herdman, who used 39 players in qualifying, settling on a final 26. Some decisions have already been made for him with goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau and defender Scott Kennedy unavailable through injury.
There was another setback Friday with defender Doneil Henry, who was to captain Canada for the second time, a late scratch after going down in the warmup.
"It's been one of the toughest moments of my career today to see the big man suffering in there," said Herdman, who was awaiting a further assessment of Henry's injury.
Bahrain showed a physical side early with Mark-Anthony Kaye felled in a tough tackle.
Ismael Kone opened the scoring in the sixth minute with his first goal for Canada, in his fourth appearance. Kamal Miller, with a long ball from deep in Canada territory, found his CF Montreal teammate, who used a deft first touch to race past a defender and steam toward goal without interference, beating Bahrain 'keeper Ebrahim Lutfalla with a high shot.
