Canada remain unbeaten in Qatar

Where Canada needed two late goals in their Group K opener at the 2025 FIFA U-17 (men’s) World Cup to defeat Uganda, the 0-0 draw against France on Saturday morning was a much more comfortable affair.

Mike Vitulano made three changes to his starting lineup – the two players that came on at half-time against Uganda (Shola Jimoh and Johnny Selemani) and the game-winning goalscorer (Marius Aiyenero). Canada dealt much better with the chaos that the African side fostered in that second half.

From the opening whistle, one got the sense that the aim was to have a controlled performance. Canada were much more resolute, they were sturdy, those gaps that Uganda exploited with quick play did not exist. There was a patience to how Canada moved the ball; they managed the game with possession, both elements that got away from them in that first match.

Not a lot was created going forward, but nor were France able to find much joy either: the French managed just one shot in the first half, blocked. The Canadians had none.

Elijah Roche, who played a big role in that first game making a pair of key defensive plays and then scoring the equalizer, was called into action once more, putting a big block in on Jah-Mason Telusson when France’s captain, Adboulaye Camara, found him streaking into the left-side of the box.

That chance came from one of the rare missteps Canada made on the day – a turnover in their own third towards the end of the first half.

There were a few moments of concern in the second half.

A free header at the back-post from a corner kick early in the second half was sent off target by Ilian Ounissi, who did not realize how much time and space he had to do better with the opportunity.

There was a troublesome counter in the 61st minute when an attacking corner kick was cleared and Rémi Himbert got forward quickly – the Canadian defenders did well to get numbers back and limit his options.

France’s two best looks would come in the final 20 minutes.

Marking on a corner kick again proved troublesome in the 72nd minute when Himbert’s out swinger arrived in the box. Canada’s goalkeeper, Jonathan Ransom, did very well to get a piece of Ruben Lomet’s close range shot, but Sahil Deo had to be alert to clean up the rebound with an attacker lurking.

France would hit the post in the final ten minutes of regulation when Pierre Mounguengue got past Josh Nteziryayo down the right and his stabbed shot struck the post, the rebound caromed back off the attacker and mercifully wide. It could have gone anywhere.

But there were also of moments of opportunity.

Aidan Evans played a lovely ball from the right that put in his strike partner Van Parker in the 62nd minute. His initial route to goal closed down, Parker looked to cut inside. The ball popped loose and he wisely left it to Jimoh attacking the space on the left. Jimoh shot got through the keeper, but an alert defensive block from a covering defender denied him a goal.

Parker again was involved in a fortuitous chance in the 80th minute when Williams Daniels’ cross was headed clear, only for a poor defensive touch to bring the ball back towards goal. The forward tried to get a high right-foot onto the bouncing ball, but could only send it over under pressure.

That Canada has been able to go to their bench to change the game or have an impact has been noteworthy through two matches.

Against Uganda the half-time subs helped establish some control in the game, Aghilas Sadek provided the corner kick for Roche’s equalizer, and then Aiyenero won and converted the game-winning penalty kick.

Both Evans and Parker had just come on – a double sub in the 58th minute – prior to combining to form that earlier chance. Daniels entered two minutes before his cross led to another decent look.

There was one final potential twist in the tale, as France issued a desperate last-minute challenge card for the officials to review a potential penalty offense when Richard Chukwu got into a tangle with French forward Antoine Valero in the final minute of stoppage-time.

Canada’s late challenge had proven decisive against Uganda, but it would have been cruel if the penalty kick had been awarded on this one and the referee waved away the claim.

Sitting on four points from two games should be enough to see Canada through to the knockout rounds. Chile and Uganda drew 1-1 in their match earlier in the day – each sit on a single point through two matches, so a single point from the third group stage match will secure them mathematically.

France has the superior goal-difference (+2 to Canada’s +1) following their 2-0 win over Chile.

It would be harsh to say that Canada were playing for the draw against France, but one suspects they won’t have minded it one bit. In a round robin if you win the games against opponents in your weight class and then find a way to take points from the heavier hitters, you’ll get through.

Canada will square off against Chile in the group finale on Tuesday at 7:30 am ET – TSN’s broadcast will get underway a little before then.

The Gigi (H/T to Molinaro) goes to the whole crew, the coaches too – everyone was belting out the anthem prematch. But if one desires a singular name, we’ll give the nod to Nteziryayo – kid was doing us all proud.

It was another solid crowd in Qatar. Not quite the same as the one for Uganda, which was special. Though there was a particularly jarring contrast between AC/DC blasting prematch and a more subtle call to prayer midway through the first half. Pretty cool to see Arsène Wenger in attendance.

Toronto FC’s Timothy Fortier was name Player of the Match – I caught up with Tim earlier this year ahead of GA Cup.

Aiyenero, who celebrated scoring the game-winner in Canada’s first-ever U-17 World Cup with his shirt off, picked up a booking with a late tackle against France. He will be suspended against Chile.

Through two matches, Vitulano has used the same 16 players. Three outfield players – Sergei

Kozlovskiy, Antone Bossenberry, and Sasha Cernic – are yet to feature, as well as goalkeepers Milo Beimers and Samsy Keita. It will be interesting to see how Canada approaches this third game.