CSA & Whitecaps FC
Coulton Jackson and Russell Teibert scored their first-ever international goals, as Canada's U-17 men's national team defeated USA U-17's 5-2 in a friendly on Wednesday morning.
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency pair put in some fine displays for their country, as Sean Fleming's side made a bright start to their latest preparation camp ahead this spring's CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Tijuana, Mexico. Jaineil Hoilett, Mujtaba Sharifi, and Jordan Ongaro were Canada's other goalscorers on a warm day at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Playing on turf, it was the Canadians that made a bright start by taking the lead inside the first minute on the counter-attack. Teibert found Jackson with a cross-field pass before the Residency striker cut inside his American marker and unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top left-hand corner of the USA goal for 1-0.
The lead was short-lived, however, as the Americans pulled level through John Agudelo's low strike less than three minutes later. Agudelo scored again on the quarter-hour mark, as he converted Andrew Craven's pass from eight yards out for 2-1.
Canada pulled level on 35 minutes when Hoilett scored his first international goal. Abdoulaye Sylla's initial shot was stopped by USA goalkeeper Jonathan Kempin, but the rebound fell for Hoilett to make it 2-2 at halftime.
Fleming reorganized his side's defensive shape at the break, and the young Canadians looked far better after the restart. On 57 minutes, Teibert gave Canada a 3-2 lead with an unstoppable left-foot shot from 22 yards out.
The hosts Americans pushed forward in search of a way back into the contest, but were unable to make the breakthrough. In fact, it as Canadian substitute Sharifi that added a fourth goal in the latter stages, as he struck home from five yards out.
Canada sealed victory in fine style, as Sharifi turned provider for fellow substitute Ongaro, as his cross allowed the forward to volley home the fifth goal with virtually the last kick of the match.
The result was Canada's fifth win all-time over the Americans at the U-17 international level, with both countries set to meet again in Group A of the CONCACAF U-17 Championship on April 23. The tournament will act as the confederation's qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria later this year.
Fleming's side will continue their training camp in Guatemala City, Guatemala, with Canada set to face that country's U-17 squad in two friendly matches on Saturday and Monday.
Canada U-17 men - line-up v USA (Whitecaps Residency players in bold)
Garrett Cyprus; Brennan McNicoll, Karl Ouimette, Derrick Bassi, Ezequiel Lubocki; Jonathan Lao,
Kevin Cobby
,
Russell Teibert
, Jaineil Hoilett (Jordan Ongaro 78');
Coulton Jackson
(Kule Kambere 75'), Abdoulaye Sylla (Mujtaba Sharifi 70')
