Défaite du Canada.

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mauvais début pour le Canada sur le chemin d'Athènes...


Men's Olympic (U-23) Team
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Canada Drops Opening Game to Honduras


Canada's Men's Olympic Team lost their opening game at the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament, dropping a 1-0 decision to Honduras, Tuesday.

Emil Martinez scored in the 57th minute Tuesday, giving the Central Americans a crucial win in the CONCACAF tournament for under-23 teams. Two of the eight teams will qualify for the Athens Olympics.

Placing first in Pool A would help Canada avoid a probable semifinal meeting with Mexico. The top two in each pool advance to cross-over semifinals, with the two finalists qualifying for Athens.

Canada's next game is Thursday against the United States. The U.S. was to play Panama later Tuesday.

Honduras got its goal when Castro sent a pass across the front of the net to an unmarked Martinez, who drilled his shot goalkeeper Andrew Olivieri of Montreal from about 12 metres.

Honduras had threatened two minutes earlier when Maynor Figueroa outraced a Canadian defender to a ball in the left corner and fired a pass to Clifford Laing, but Olivieri made the save.

Walter Martinez missed a chance to add to Honduras' lead in the 79th minute when he sailed a penalty kick over the goal.


The Canadians did have a chance in the 33rd minute when a free kick from Tam Nsaliwa of Edmonton zipped over the Honduran net.

Canada was without captain Chris Pozniak, a defender, and midfielder David Masciantonio, who were suspended for the game because of accumulation of yellow cards in the first round of qualifying.


2004 CONCACAF Men’s U-23 Pre-Olympic Tournament
Group A
03.02.2004: Guadalajara, Jalisco MEXICO; Estadio 3 de Marzo (A: 2500)
HONDURAS – CANADA 1:0 (0:0)
Emil MARTINEZ 58’
HON: 1-Donis Escobar – 3-Maynor Figueroa, 4-Clifford Laing, 6-Sergio Mendoza-C, 7-Emil Martinez (78: 10-Walter Martínez), 8-Wilson Palacios, 9-Alex Andino, 16-Mauricio Castro (77: 11-Israel Abidán Solis), 20-Hendry Thomas, 21-Jerry Palacios, 24-Víctor Bernárdez. Booked: W. Palacios 34’, Mendoza 41’
TD: Edwin PAVÓN
CAN: 1-Andrew Olivieri – 2-Adam Braz, 4-Victor Oppong, 6-Tam Nsaliwa, 7-Chris Williams, 8-Rocco Placentino (72: 14-Stephen Ademolu), 10-Julian DeGuzman-C, 13-Atiba Hutchinson, 15-Joshua Simpson, 16-Elliott Godrey (47: 11-Robert Friend), 18-Justin Thompson. Booked: Oppong 44’
TD: Bruce TWANLEY
R: Greivin PORRAS (CRC)

Canadian Press