TORONTO — A pair of goals just four minutes apart gave Peru a 2-0 win over Canada in an international friendly at BMO Field Saturday.
Jose Carlos Fernandez and Jean Tragodara scored for the visitors on a cold and at times rainy afternoon on the shores of Lake Ontario. A boisterous crowd of 10,619 – many wearing Peruvian red and white—took in the match.
"Credit to the Voyageurs group who made the 2014 banner and were vocal, but it was still a huge Peruvian crowd," Canadian coach Stephen Hart said of the atmosphere. "I guess it is something we have to live with in multicultural Canada."
The match was the first on home soil for the Canadian men’s national team in almost two years. Canada is currently ranked 101st in the FIFA world rankings while its opponent from Peru sits at No. 39.
Hart fielded the strongest lineup available with Toronto FC midfielders Julian De Guzman and Dwayne De Rosario lined up behind Hertha BSC striker Rob Friend and Norwich City’s Simeon Jackson.
Lars Hirschfeld, who plays his club soccer for Vålerenga Football in Norway, earned the start in net.
Toronto FC defender Nana Attakora was a late scratch with Adam Straith filling in a centre back.
"It was an error," Hart said of the Nana decision. "An error on the paper."
The error on paper may not sit well with Toronto FC head coach Preki, who accommodated Hart’s request to take three Reds players on the same day that the club is continuing its playoff run against FC Dallas.
The Peruvian side owned the lion’s share of chances in the first half but was unable to beat the Canadian goalkeeper. A late attempt on goal by Friend gave Canada its best chance, but the two teams headed to the locker room without a goal.
The newly-appointed Peruvian coach, Sergio Markarian, conceded in his post-match comments that Canada was the better team in the first half, but adjustments made by his team in the second 45 minutes decided the outcome.
Hart echoed that sentiment during his post-match conference:
"When I saw how we approached the first half I thought we were doing quite well and we created a few chances," Hart said. "But in the second half we certainly became careless with the ball and died physically."
The match remained scoreless until the 68th minute when Canada failed to clear a Peru cross and Fernandez headed home a second cross into the 18-yard box to make it 1-0.
Just four minutes later a clever give-and-go through the middle of the Canadian defence allowed Tragodara to slide a low shot past the diving Hirschfeld.
"The first goal was preventable and the second goal changed the outlook of the game," said Hart.
Canadian defender Paul Stalteri made his 82nd appearance for the national team, tying him with 1986 World Cup squad member Randy Samuel. If Hart selects Stalteri for the friendly against Honduras in Montreal Sept. 7, the 32-year-old will own the record.
Lineup:
Lars Hirschfeld; Marcel de Jong (Jaime Peters, 30) Kevin McKenna, Adam Straith, Paul Stalteri; Julian de Guzman, Will Johnson (Iain Hume, 62), Atiba Hutchinson, Simeon Jackson (Josh Simpson, 62); Rob Friend (Issey Nakajima-Farran, 85), Dwayne De Rosario
NOTES: Hart confirmed that de Guzman, De Rosario and Nana will not play in the second friendly Sept. 7 but instead return to Toronto FC for its match against Chicago on Sept. 8 … the announced attendance of 10,619 marks the fifth straight time the CMNT has drawn 10k-plus at home, which is a record … Head coach Stephen Hart was forced to make an early substitution when defender Marcel De Jong suffered an arm injury and was replaced by Jaime Peters in the 30th minute. Post-match Hart confirmed de Jong has a broken shoulder … Canada now has just one goal in the last five friendlies (1-1 at Venezuela).