Canada's Men Secure First-ever FIFA U-17 World Cup Victory
Elijah Roche scored in the 88th minute, followed by Marius Aiyenero converting a penalty in stoppage time, leading Canada to a 2-1 victory over Uganda on Wednesday. This marked Canada's first win in nine appearances at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Match Summary
Uganda's James Bogere opened the scoring in the 25th minute, giving the team something to celebrate in their debut at a FIFA tournament. However, late in the game in Doha, Qatar, Roche, who had earlier prevented a goal with a critical tackle, rose to head home Aghilas Sadek's corner kick and level the score for Canada.
After a video review, Uganda's John Asiimwe was penalized for fouling Aiyenero inside the penalty area. Aiyenero, a substitute who plays club football for Los Angeles FC 2, calmly converted the penalty in the 98th minute, securing the win.
Historical Context and Coach's Remarks
- Canada's men's team record in the U-17 tournament improved to 1 win, 20 losses, and 4 draws.
- In their 25 tournament games, Canada has been outscored 71 to 13, including one own goal by Argentina.
"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. 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. 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 World Cup victory against Uganda, demonstrating resilience and ambition for future tournaments.