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Canada draws with Bahrain before the World Cup

MANAMA, BAHRAIN –

Canada, without some of its top talent, drew Bahrain 2-2 thanks to Lucas Cavallini’s 81st-minute goal in Friday’s World Cup warm-up.

After Bahrain took the lead in the 65th minute from the penalty spot, the failed clearance took its toll. Substitute Zachary Brault-Guillard made a low cross that touched the feet of Cavallini and a defender and went wide of Bahrain’s goal.

It was the Vancouver Whitecap striker’s 18th goal for Canada.

Canadians learned of the conditions that awaited them in Qatar. The temperature was 29 degrees Celsius when the match started (6:30 pm local time) at Al-Khalifa Stadium.

Canada, ranked 41st in the world to Bahrain’s 85, controlled much of the play and took an early lead but paid the price of a first-half mistake that ended 1-1. Bahrain showed itself to be a threat from counter-attacks.

Bahrain took the lead in the 20th minute thanks to Abdulla Yusuf’s penalty after Alistair Johnston had fired Mohamed Marhoon on the edge of the box. Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair of Canada got his hands on the penalty but couldn’t save it

Bahrain soon showed physical fitness when Mark-Anthony Kaye was cut down in a difficult challenge for the ball.

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 Canadian territory, found his CF Montreal teammate, who used a deft first touch to pass a defender and go straight towards goal without unimpeded, beat Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla with a high shot.

A goal from Cavallini in the 12th minute, from a good pass from Jonathan Osorio, was flagged for offside.

Bahrain had the answer in the 14th minute to the attack of Mahdi Haumaidan. After Kaye failed to make a pass in the back, Yusuf beat Joel Waterman and found Haumaidan in the box. His quick shot avoided a miss by Johnston and St.

Yusuf’s deflected shot hit the post 16 minutes into the match after another Canadian deflection. And Yusuf, who was playing for his club for Indonesia’s Persija Jakarta, was forced to make a save against St. Clair with a difficult shot in the 32nd minute.

The two teams each hit two shots on target in the first half with 62 percent possession.

Kone should have had a second goal in the 50th minute but his header went wide open after a fine pass from Raheem Edwards, who beat his man to make it. Minutes later, Richie Laryea found Osorio in the far corner but a Bahrain defender made a successful save.

St. Clair struggled to save Marhoon’s free kick in the 62nd minute, but he looked shaky at the corner after that.

Canada will announce its World Cup roster on Sunday with coach John Herdman, who used 39 players in qualifying, tackles the final 26. Several decisions have been made for him with Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau and defender Scott Kennedy were unavailable due to injury.

Defender Doneil Henry will captain Canada on Friday, marking his second time as captain, but a late scratch from a warm-up injury. Waterman, making his Canadian debut, started in his place with Samuel Piette leading the team.

Herdman did not have his full squad for the Bahrain game, with most of his European-born players still playing with their clubs. They will be launched after the weekend matches with the World Cup shortlists going to Doha.

The Canadian men will play one final game, against Japan’s No. 24, in Dubai next Thursday before their World Cup opener against Belgium’s No. 2 on November 23.

For the Bahrain match and camp, Herdman relied on MLS talent alongside midfielder Liam Fraser playing in Belgium for KMSK Deinze. Eighteen of the 21 players in the camp are from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver (including Toronto winger Jacob Shaffelburg on loan to Nashville SC).

The TFC and Vancouver players in the camp hadn’t seen a game since the regular October 9 MLS finals. Montreal exited the knockout stages on October 23 in a 3-1 loss to New. York City FC in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

For some, the hiatus is even longer. Before Friday, Osorio had played just 18 minutes since August 20 due to post-concussion syndrome. He earned his 56th cap for Canada on Friday and looked sharp, playing the full game.

The match against Bahrain was also an important milestone for both Herdman and Johnston.

Herdman marked his 46th international “A” match under the Canadian men’s lead, taking him to second on the all-time list, overtaking Stephen Hart with a record (31). -10-5). Bob Lenarduzzi holds the record at age 62.

Johnston played his 27th consecutive game for Canada, beating the record held by former captain Bruce Wilson. The 24-year-old from Aurora, Ont., made his debut against Bermuda in March 2021 in Canada’s opening World Cup qualifier and has made history ever since.

Johnston, who claimed his 29th starting spot on Friday, hasn’t missed the outing in Canada since the match in Aruba in June 2021.

St. Clair, who had only made his second cap, started in goal behind three defenders Waterman, Johnston and Miller and a midfield consisting of Laryea, Samuel Piette, Kaye and Edwards with Osorio and Kone playing behind Cavallini.

Team 11 started Canada with a total limit of 293, led by Piette (65) and Osorio (56).

Fraser, Brault-Guillard, Ayo Akinola, Jayden Nelson, Shaffelburg and Lukas MacNaughton, making their Canadian debut, came on in the second half. Miller, who seemed to like to be forefoot, came on in the 71st minute.

For Akinola, it is his first appearance for Canada since suffering a knee injury against the US in July 2021 in the Gold Cup.



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