TFC’s Nolan scores for Jamaica: Canada U20 advance to QFs
It’s not how Canada would’ve wanted to advance, but, they’re off to the quarterfinals at the Concacaf U20 Championship.
Canada’s U-20s looked to have completed a second-half comeback against Jamaica on Saturday in Puebla, Mex., after conceding early to Toronto FC prospect Jahmarie Nolan. However, Valter Sedin and Marius Aiyenero’s goals were not enough, as Sean Leighton scored a penalty 12 minutes into second-half stoppage time to bookend a 2-2 draw against Jamaica in the two nations’ Group C finale.
While a win — or two — more would have been the expectation for Jesse Marsch’s squad, Les Rouges’ superior goal difference of plus-3, compared to Jamaica’s plus-1, sees them through to the quarterfinals — where the two sides will meet again, as both finished bottom of their respective winner and runner-up rankings.
Toronto FC II’s Nolan gave Jamaica the lead after 21 minutes, shocking Canada, courtesy of a long diagonal switch off the foot of fellow TFC prospect and right-back Raequan Campbell-Dennis. The latter picked out left winger Brandon Bent, who squared the ball to Nolan.
Nolan was unmarked as he ghosted into the heart of the Canadian 18-yard box, putting Canada behind for the first time this tournament.
Leighton’s late — but confident — penalty, on the other hand, frustrated Marsch and Canada, as VAR confirmed a marginal handball against Vancouver Whitecaps defender Anyole Peter, who had entered the match in the 86th minute.
Beyond the number on the clock, it was a gut punch for a Canada side that had laboured to gain the lead after Nolan’s opening salvo.
Canada levelled in the 56th minute as Valter Sedin, son of Vancouver Canucks legend Henrik Sedin, saw his shot take a mighty deflection past Jamaica goalkeeper Joshua Grant.
Marius Aiyenero then gave Les Rouges the lead in the 78th minute, with the match’s first penalty, dispatching the spot kick into the bottom corner — unsaveable for Grant, who guessed right and dove at full extension.
While it took Canada a while to truly get going, especially after conceding the opener to Nolan and Jamaica, it was a busy day at the office for Reggae Boyz goalkeeper Joshua Grant once they kicked into gear.
It started with Canada inches away from finding an equalizer, less than ten minutes after Nolan’s opener.
An untimely bobble took the ball past Grant as he came out to challenge Vancouver FC forward Marsel Bibishkov. Bibishkov attempted to rescue the ball before it went over the end line, hooking it back to Lucas Lima. However, referee Guido Gonzales Jr. ruled it had gone out of play before Lucas Lima’s finish into an empty goal, to minimal protests from the Canadian forwards.
TFCII midfielder Tim Fortier hit a dipping shot towards goal which Grant had to tip over the bar in the 38th minute, while three minutes later, Les Rouges were denied a penalty after the goalkeeper collided with Lucas Lima.
A tight angle and Lima not having full control of the ball likely saved Grant from being called for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
The last opportunity of the half came in the final minute of stoppage time as LAFC2 striker Aiyenero turned out of traffic and unleashed a low shot that Grant had to push around his left post.
Sensing a turning tide, Canada head coach Jesse Marsch turned up the intensity, bringing on regulars Sergei Kozlovskiy, Dylan Judelson and Owen Graham-Roache on the hour mark. That only served to add to Grant’s workload, as Graham-Roache fired narrowly over the bar with his first touches after coming on.
Another pinpoint Sergei Kozlovskiy delivery from the corner flag won Canada’s late penalty, as Aiyenero’s header was stopped by the flailing hand of attacker Kimarly Scott.
The one-way traffic continued as Graham-Roache brought down and controlled a potential third goal for Canada in the 84th minute, but chose to side-foot the shot, sending it wide, rather than taking on a first-time header.
Given the final result, they’re likely chances that Canada will want back, despite topping the group after fielding a heavily-rotated side on Saturday. Six players came into Marsch’s starting XI, including Fortier and fellow TFCII teammate Richard Chukwu.
It was both Fortier and Chukwu’s first starts of the tournament, having come off the bench in Canada’s first two games. The third TFCII representative in the Canada squad, Antone Bossenberry, remained sidelined after injuring his shoulder in the first half of Canada’s tournament opener against Panama.
On the other side of the pitch, Nolan, one of Toronto FC’s top prospects at the moment, kept his spot atop Jamaica’s starting XI. He had been one of the tournament’s best players as a 16-year-old, scoring two of Jamaica’s four goals — one in either match up to that point.
Nolan and Campbell-Dennis successfully added to that tally against the country both now call home, playing for MLS NEXT Pro’s Toronto FC II. Nolan made his first team debut against Atlético Ottawa in the Canadian Championship, and could be the next TFC II player to win a first team deal.
Elsewhere in Group C on Saturday, Honduras and Panama will finish out the tournament’s group stages with the last game on the calendar.
While neither can play spoiler for Canada or Jamaica at this point — had either Canada or Jamaica lost, and Honduras or Panama won by enough goals, the loser from Canada vs. Jamaica would have faced Mexico in the quarterfinals — that spot in the knockout rounds is still on the line for Honduras or Panama if either side come out with a win.