Familiar frustrations dogged the Canadian national team on Sunday, as they struggled to finish their scoring chances and were punished by El Salvador via a 1-0 loss in an international friendly at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas, an event benefiting victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Denis Pineda, a 23-year-old winger based in Portugal, netted the game's only goal, dispatching a far-post cross from Alexander Larin with 15 minutes left on the clock.
Video : El gol de @Denispineda95 hoy. El Salvador 1-0 Canada, Final. Narracion - @RIVASMAUpic.twitter.com/FWhXosEOkw
— Pepsinono (@Pepsinono) October 8, 2017
A youngish Canadian side led by Orlando City's Cyle Larin enjoyed more of the ball against the Central Americans and carved out several decent looks at goal, inspired mainly by Scott Arfield, but were unable to beat Cuscatlecos goalkeeper Derby Carrillo.
Arfield again but can't find the net. #CanMNTpic.twitter.com/fYCtwXituw
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) October 8, 2017
Larin was one of four MLSers in Canada coach Octavio Zambrano's starting lineup, while Chicago Fire veteran Arturo Alvarez made his first appearance for El Salvador in two years.
Goals
- 75' - SLV - Denis Pineda
Three Things
QUIET CYLE
: Starved of service and unable to take matters into his own hands, it was an anonymous afternoon for Larin.
A look at his Opta actions
shows that though he was tidy with his passing, the Orlando star did not produce a single shot of any sort in his 52 minutes on the pitch, nor did his replacement,
Montreal
's
Anthony Jackson-Hamel
. That's a serious concern given the importance of that lone striker role in
the 4-1-4-1 formation
Zambrano fielded.
WELCOME BACK, ARTIE
: El Salvador coach Eduardo Lara honored Alvarez's return to the fold with a starting role in his hometown, and the Fire's crafty veteran flashed some of his trademark trickiness in an inside-out winger role along the right flank. There was also a pleasing bit of symbolism as he made way in the second half for Alexis Cerritos, the 17-year-old
D.C. United
academy prospect whose father Ronald was a star in MLS's early years.
