Summer Universiade M soccer (Aug. 16): Canadians earn first point of tourney

Photo credit Freestyle Photography

SHENZHEN, China (CIS) – The Canadian men’s soccer team finally picked up their first point of the tournament on Tuesday night, drawing Ghana 1-1 in their final Group D match of the 26th Summer Universiade. Unfortunately for Canada (0-2-1), they will not advance to the quarter-finals and instead will compete for placement outside of the final eight.

STATISTICS: CAN vs. GHA 
 
“The boys played well, it was a very good performance, overall I was pleased with what we accomplished in this game,” said Team Canada and University of Windsor head coach Steve Hart. “Things really picked up in the second half, it was a back-and-forth affair and some really exciting football for the crowd.”
 
Canada stuck first in the game, when Saskatoon’s Jerson Barandica Hamilton was taken down in the box in the 40th minute. Carl Haworth of Barrie, Ont., made the most of his penalty kick opportunity, beating Ghana (0-1-2) keeper George Asamoah to the short side to give the Canadians a 1-0 lead at the half.
 
In the second, Ghana came out with increased pressure and was rewarded in the 52nd minute when James Kwame Abban struck a firm ball past Canadian keeper JP Crescenzi of Calgary to knot the game at 1-1.

Adrian Pena of Woodbridge, Ont., almost broke the stalemate late in the contest, but Asamoah made the save of the tournament, getting his fingertips on the ball to direct it just outside of the post and preserve the tie.
 
This marks the second straight Universiade that Canada has missed the quarter-finals.