Canada Men Secure First FIFA U-17 World Cup Victory
Elijah Roche scored in the 88th minute, and Marius Aiyenero converted a stoppage-time penalty as Canada achieved a remarkable 2-1 win over Uganda on Wednesday. This marked Canada's first-ever victory in nine FIFA U-17 World Cup appearances.
Match Summary
James Bogere gave Uganda a 25th-minute lead, marking their first-ever goal in a FIFA tournament during their debut appearance. Moments before Roche's equalizer, he made a crucial goal-saving tackle at the opposite end.
“Tonight is a proud moment for our program,” said Canada head coach Mike Vitulano. “We wanted to set a new benchmark for the generations to come and did just that.”
Roche headed in Aghilas Sadek's corner to level the score late in the match in Doha, Qatar. Following a video review, Uganda’s John Asiimwe was penalized for fouling Aiyenero inside the box. The substitute, a player for Los Angeles FC 2, scored the winning penalty in the 98th minute past Uganda's goalkeeper Gilbert Mazige.
Statistics and Impact
- Canada's U-17 men improved their tournament record to 1 win, 20 losses, and 4 draws.
- In 25 games, Canada has been outscored 71 to 13 (one goal credited as an own goal by Argentina).
- Canada previously hosted the U-17 World Cup in 1987.
“The boys showed incredible character to come from behind, fight their way back and find a way to win late. It's a testament to their belief and togetherness,” Vitulano added. “We'll enjoy this moment, but we're an ambitious group and our focus quickly shifts to preparing for the next match.”
Author's summary: Canada's U-17 men's team achieved a historic first win in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, showing resilience and ambition for future success.