Tani Oluwaseyi thought history had arrived in a double dose. The substitute striker buried Tajon Buchanan’s cross in injury time at Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium, his first international goal, and it was one that would seal a place in the last eight of the Copa America and the knockout stages of a major international competition for the first time in Canadian history.
Then the offside flag went up and the shredded nerve endings of Jesse Marsch and everyone else of a Canadian disposition twitched again. The wait went on but only for five more minutes. A quarterfinal berth was finally confirmed courtesy of a 0-0 draw against a stubborn and sticky Chilean side.
Against a team missing its suspended coach, Ricardo Gareca, and its captain and veteran goalkeeper, Claudio Bravo, Canada got an even more telling advantage when the world’s No. 40 side was reduced to 10 men, with Gabriel Suazo given the early marching orders.
It was all there for Canada to make it a much less stressful night than it needed to be. Yet Marsch’s side insisted on making it tricky on themselves. A showdown with Venezue-
la at the home of the Dallas Cowboys next week awaits. Progress hasn’t been pretty but the focus and fight were mightily impressive and reaped a milestone reward.
Numbers advantage doesn't add up
This story is from the June 30, 2024 edition of Toronto Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 30, 2024 edition of Toronto Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A comfortingly disquieting presence
Whatever the medium, comedian mastered the art of always being right for the job
A half-baked publicity stunt
‘The Last Timbit’ is just a 75-minute commercial
Canada's telecom sector betting on AI
Customers increasingly likely to encounter technology
City lacks funding to alleviate shortage
Chow says Toronto has capacity to operate more beds, but needs support from province following closure of Parkdale location
The Costa doing business
Portugal keeper thwarts three straight to beat Slovenia on penalties
Predators make the biggest splash
Nashville commits more than 100M in new salaries, adding Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei
Spending on defending
Tanev headlines bolstered blue line, while Stolarz joins Woll in crease
Family-sized dwellings in short supply
The cognitive dissonance could scarcely be more jarring.
Hurricane Beryl wreaks havoc
Category 4 storm hits southeast Caribbean, warning in effect for Jamaica
Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate Khan Younis
The Israeli army ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis on Monday, a sign that troops are likely to launch a new ground assault into the Gaza Strip’s second-largest city.
