Canada should look at this game as an opportunity salvaged. They had the better of play and created more chances. They put seven shots on target to Venezuela’s three, and they had several other chances that went begging.
But they nearly handed the game to a tough Venezuela side that has some attacking power. As inexplicable as the referee’s actions were in delaying a throw-in to allow Venezuelan keeper Romo to get back to the goal, that doesn’t explain the team-wide lapse that allowed Rondon to chip the keeper and equalize. And teams that squander that many chances often rue the day.
In the end, they won with maturity and poise. They avoided losing control in a chippy game with a lot of flying bodies hitting the ground. Then they took some supremely composed penalty kicks.
Canada doesn’t have much to show from its men’s national team’s history. They have something now.
See you for the semi-final. Here’s a match report from tonight’s action:
Updated
Canada defeats Venezuela on penalties
Davies made his shot look routine. Marseille’s Ismael Kone was even calmer, simply stepping and kicking it past Romo like he was kicking a ball back to a teammate during warmups.
And that’s it. Canada vs. Argentina in the semi-final.
