Canada draws with Mexico at Estadio Azteca on the way to the World Cup

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For years, Canada’s men’s soccer team had been a punching bag for Mexico at Mexico City’s famed Estadio Azteca, but en route to the 2022 FIFA World Cup that is no longer the case.

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Not with this edition of the Canadian team, which is building a solid case to be one of the three automatic qualifiers for Concacaf at the World Cup in Qatar.

Jonathan Osorio scored in the 42nd minute to give Canada a 1-1 draw against Mexico at Azteca on Thursday in a Concacaf World Cup qualifier. It was the first time Canada had not lost in Mexico since 1980, and a game that they definitely could have won.

“We wanted to get the three points (for the win), you could see we put in a striker in the 90th minute to try and get that win at Azteca,” Canada head coach John Herdman said. “I’m happy with the point, but at the same time, I think there was an opportunity to take three.

“I think we’ll walk away from this, looking at it in time, thinking we could have had three tonight.”

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Canada has never beaten Mexico on the road, and entering the contest with a talented team and playing with house money, a result was not expected, Herdman decided to race in the best team in the region, playing with the star of the Bayern Munich, Alphonso Davies. on the field on the right wing and rising star Tajon Buchanan up front.

The two sprinters terrified the Mexican defenders every time the ball went onto the field and had them on the back foot from kick-off.

“We learned from our last game against them (Gold Cup), we understood their pressure tactics and I thought the guys executed very well,” Herdman said. “We were able to draw their pressure and play behind them and then we focused on where our strengths were in the front areas.

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“I think the guys executed well and in the second half, we got a little leggy, you could see it, but I thought we finished strong.”

Canada had the first good chance of the game when Davies placed Richie Laryea on top of the Mexican penalty area, forcing goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa to make an outstanding jump save.

Unlike previous visits to Azteca, Canada did not stack players on defense and only tried to survive for 90 minutes. This Canadian team has attacking talent to threaten Mexico, no matter where the teams play.

“We wanted to open this game, we had to be brave,” Herdman said. “We had to dare to lose, to win; and I thought there was a lot of courage from the players here tonight. It was easy to come here and park the bus, but we wanted to show that we are taking a step forward and we want to show that there is more to come.

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“I’m happy with the performance and I’m happy with the point.”

Despite Canada’s first chances, it was Mexico who scored first when defender Jorge Sánchez, in a rare run down the field, received a fly pass over Hirving Lozano’s Canadian defense and shot through goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.

Canada did not deviate from their game plan after conceding the goal in the 21st minute and brought the play to Mexico, creating a series of quality chances to tie the game before Osorio’s goal in the 42nd minute.

Davies came close, reaching the end of a low cross by Buchanan from the right wing, but was unable to deflect a shot into the net.

Later, Stephen Eustaquio took a free kick to the far post, where center-back Steven Vitoria was able to head in, but the ball was parried by Ochoa who bounced off the keeper.

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Osorio tied the game with a world-class spike, received a pass from Davies, played through four Mexican players, controlled it with his right foot, and then landed a left-footed shot to the corner that edged Ochoa.

“I’ve watched Jonathan grow over the past three years to become a solid leader on this team,” Herdman said. “When he first came in, he was an emotional guy. But for the past three years, he’s embraced that leadership and it’s a big part of establishing this team’s culture on and off the court.

“He embraced that bravery tonight, he embraced that mindset and for me, it was the best performance I’ve ever seen him play in a Canadian jersey.”

The second half was played at a slower pace as the altitude of Mexico City seems to affect the players of both teams. Canada didn’t push that high and Mexico was content to slowly build the ball from the back.

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Mexico came close to taking the lead in the 64th minute when Canadian fullback Alistair Johnston nearly headed the ball into his own net defending a cross. Johnson reached the ball destined for Lozano and tried to head over his own net, but the ball bounced off the top of the crossbar and was then cleared by Vitoria.

Later in the middle, the game was stopped when the Mexican fans behind the Canada network were deemed to be yelling homophobic insults. This has been a long-standing problem with some Mexican fans and originally the game was to be played without fans as punishment for behavior in the Under-23 qualifying tournament.

FIFA had sanctioned the Mexican soccer federation and ruled that they had to play the first two home games of the final Concacaf qualifying round in an empty stadium. However, the decision was overturned in August and changed to a game, which came when Mexico hosted Jamaica in September.

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After the brief interruption, play resumed and the teams returned to methodical competition in search of the occasional break.

Canada came close to getting it when Davies got into space, but couldn’t play one last ball off Jonathan David, who would have been alone. Liam Fraser had another excellent opportunity for Canada to take the lead when he landed a header off a corner kick, which Ochoa flipped over the crossbar with 12 minutes remaining.

Canada will continue to qualify by traveling to face Jamaica on Sunday, then return home to host Panama on Wednesday at BMO Field in Toronto.

“We looked at our three-game strategy and said (Thursday) that we would push hard,” Herdman said. “We have a group of guys who would push themselves and a group that is rested. I have a group of warriors ready, and they know they will make it to the next game, and I have a group of guys who are super fresh and excited to go after Jamaica. “

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On Twitter: @DerekVanDiest