A fate left to lottery when all the numbers had been in Canada's favour. No matter. Jesse Marsch's heroes in white held their nerve from the spot to win Friday's wild Copa America quarterfinal against Venezuela and book a semifinal with Argentina.
The biggest game in the history of the country's men's team was secured by Maxime Crépeau's remarkable redemption and Ismaël Koné. What a night.
On a night when Dallas became Caracas and an erratic Brazilian officiating team got sometimes lost in the noise, Marsch's team was wonderful but wasteful.
When Jacob Shaffelburg gave the team a priceless early lead, he turned and made a beeline for the Canada bench, grabbing the jersey of Tajon Buchanan who'd suffered a broken leg in training in Texas midweek. TV cameras captured Buchanan high up in AT&T Stadium, smiling down.
All of Canada could have been smiling, relaxed even had Marsch's side taken the glut of glorious openings which came its way. Instead a spectacular second-half sucker-punch, Crépeau of all people caught out, dragged the contest back where it started. Until Koné ended it all with the decisive penalty.
Two promises fulfilled in one and it could have been more.
Denne historien er fra July 06, 2024-utgaven av Toronto Star.
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Denne historien er fra July 06, 2024-utgaven av Toronto Star.
Abonner på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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