Canada vs. Uruguay result: Darwin Nunez helps blank Les Rouges in World Cup tuneup

Total times read this article : 5

It was Canada’s toughest test on paper ahead of the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and it turned out that way as Uruguay handed the Canadians a 2-0 loss. 

A goal after just six minutes is not what John Herdman’s side needed against the talented No. 13-ranked Uruguayans. Nicolas de la Cruz converted a free kick that went over the wall and beat Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan to get the South American side on its way.

The early goal allowed Uruguay to sit back and wait for the Canadians, looking to hit them on the quick transition when it’s Canada that usually prefers to play that way. Les Rouges were scrambling on defense in those instances and Darwin Nunez got a couple of looks, including a goal-scoring header in the 33rd minute.

The match followed a similar script in the second half, the many subs broke up the flow of the game, and Uruguay managed the second half to see out the victory and maintain the shutout. Goalkeeper Sergio Rochet made a couple of strong saves on Canada’s best looks in the second half.

The next time Canada gets back together it will be for World Cup camp and they are set to face Japan in a friendly played Dubai on Thursday, Nov. 17 ahead of kicking off their group stage participation against the No. 2 team in the world, Belgium, on Nov. 23.

MORE: Projecting Canada’s World Cup roster for Qatar

Canada vs Uruguay final score

  1H 2H Final
Canada 0 0 0
Uruguay 2 0 2

Goals:
6th min — URU — Nicolas de la Cruz
33rd min — URU — Darwin Nunez

Canada vs Uruguay live updates, highlights from friendly

Final: Canada 0, Uruguay 2

90th min: Canada are still without a goal, and they’re searching for some kind of chance in front of net. A cross from the left goes fizzing by the goal mouth, but nobody’s there to reach it.

Moments later, Alphonso Davies unleashes a frustration hit that rifles well wide left. It’s been a flop of a second half performance from Les Rouges against a defensive-minded Uruguay.

81st min: The second half has been a real snoozer, and the substitutions here in the second half haven’t done much to help. Former MLS standout Diego Rossi is on for Uruguay now, with Fede Valverde off. Tajon Buchanan and Theo Corbeanu are on for Canada.

73rd min: The aforementioned Ike Ugbo is in now for Canada, as the youngsters get chances to see time at the upcoming World Cup. He replaces Cyle Larin.

65th min: Chance, Canada! They miss again! Kamal Miller rises high to meet a set-piece delivery in the box, but his header is high! The finishing just isn’t there today for Les Rouges.

64th min: Chance, Canada! Jonathan David turns and fires, and it forces a BIG save from Rochet! Diving down to his left, it’s an acrobatic, full-stretch save from the young Uruguayan goalkeeper. What a stop! Canada probing…

61st min: Olivera draws a yellow card after bulldozing Alphonso Davies around the midway line while Canada was on the break. Moments later, Uruguay make a change up front, with Darwin Nunez off and Martin Satriano on for a national team debut. Meanwhile, the ever-present Rodrigo Betancur comes off in favor of Manuel Ugarte.

56th min: The game has ground to a halt since the restart, with very few goal-mouth chances. It’s become a real physical midfield battle in which neither side wishes to concede any space.

Canada makes a change, bringing off the recently cautioned Peitte for 20-year-old Ismael Kone, who has seen time off the bench recently. John Herdman rates both him and Ike Ugbo very highly.

50th min: Ouch. Piette gets the game’s first yellow card for kicking Matias Vechino right in the thigh as the ball bobbled off the ground. Deserved caution, that was a dangerous whack.

46th min: Back under way for the second half! No changes from either side just yet.

HALFTIME: Canada 0-2 Uruguay

Les Rouges finished the first half with a solid 10-minute spell of possession, forcing a big punch from Rochet at the death, but couldn’t find much from it. Ultimately, Uruguay were the more dangerous side throughout the first half, playing largely on the counter.

After the first friendly against Qatar where Canada were hardly threatened at the back, it’s now up to John Herdman at halftime to shore up the holes in the transition defense and find a way to produce more in front of net. The dangerous front three of Canada have been largely silent.

39th min: A good spell of possession for Canada goes begging without a big chance. Cyle Larin had an opportunity from a tight angle down the right, fed in from the middle by Davies, but his effort is blocked by Sebastian Caceres. He probably took too long to settle and shoot, allowing the back-side defender to cover.

33rd min: GOAL! URUGUAY! Just minutes after his miss, Darwin Nunez makes up for it in a big way, putting Uruguay up 2-0! A cross from El Pistolero on the right finds the head of Nunez, who jumps high atop Alistair Johnston and buries it inside the near post.

Watch in Canada:

28th min: Chance, Uruguay! Darwin Nunez fires over! How did he miss that? The goal was gaping, and his one-touch redirect goes rifling well over the bar. Uruguay caught Canada again on a quick transition and the final shot is Darwin’s, but he takes it on the volley and it’s high. Canada got lucky there.

24th min.: Jonathan David with the shot on target that’s stopped. Alphonso Davies created the chance by attacking the space in the Uruguay half.

20th min.: What a play by Borjan! He came way out of his box on a sliding tackle that cleared the ball off the feet of Darwin Nunez, who was put in free on goal.

But Borjan stays on the ground after taking a knock from Darwin on the challenge

19th min.: Canada have settled into the game. They’re comfortable in their formation and Uruguay isn’t causing many problems.

12th min.: Canada chance! On a corner kick Alistair Johnston nods the ball down and it bounces at the far post, but no one is there to put it in.

6th min.: Goal Uruguay! Nicolas de la Cruz takes the free kick and curls the ball around the wall and into the right corner. He was all alone on the dead ball and you can see why.

5th min.: A Kamal Miller tackle causes plenty of discussion on the field. Miller felt it was clean.

1st min.: We’re off. Canada in black and Uruguay in blue.

60 mins from kickoff: Here’s a preview from the TSN team on the ground in Slovakia.

Canada vs Uruguay lineups

Herdman looks to be going with a three-man backline, with veteran Steven Vitoria in the middle. Tajon Buchanan was not in the matchday squad against Qatar as he recovered from a quad injury, but he’s available on the bench for this one.

Canada starting lineup (3-4-3, right to left): 18-Borjan (GK) — 2-Johnston, 5-Vitoria, 4-Miller — 22-Laryea, 6-Piette, 7-Eustaquio, 3-Adekugbe — 20-David, 17-Larin, 19-Davies

Canada subs (15): St. Clair (GK), Crepeau (GK), Cornelius, 23-Kennedy, Waterman, Kaye, Kone, Millar, Hoilett, Brym, Buchanan, Corbeanu, Koleosho, Ugbo, Cavallini

MORE: Why are Canada wearing their old kits? No new World Cup threads for Les Rouges

Uruguay is missing several players to injury: center-backs Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez, Sebastian Coates, and Ronald Araujo with the latter suffering a groin injury in the match against Iran that puts him at risk for missing the World Cup. It’ll be Sebastian Caceres and veteran Martin Caceres manning central defense against the explosive Canadian attack as part of a 4-4-2 formation with Darwin Nunez and Luis Suarez up top.

Uruguay starting lineup (4-4-2, right to left): 23-Rochet (GK) — 21-Varela, 22-M. Caceres, 3-S. Caceres, 16-Olivera — 18-Canobbio, 6-Betancur, 15-Valverde, 7-De La Cruz — 11-Nunez, 9-Suarez

Uruguay subs (14): 1-Muslera (GK), 12-Sosa (GK), 13-D. Suarez, 2-Rojel, 26-Cabrera, 17-Vina, 25-Ugarte, 5-Vecino, 14-Torreira, 8-Pellistri, 10-De Arrascaeta, 20-Rossi, 19-Satriano, 24-Ocampo

Canada vs. Uruguay TV channel, live stream

  Canada USA Uruguay Argentina
Date Tues, Sept. 27 Tues, Sept. 27 Tues, Sept. 27 Tues, Sept. 27
Time 12:00 ET 12:00 ET 13:00 UYT 13:00 AST
TV channel OneSoccer FOX Deportes DIRECTV Sports, NS Eventos 1, Claro Sports DIRECTV Sports, Claro Sports
Streaming fuboTV Canada fuboTV, Fox Sports App NS Now, DIRECTV app DIRECTV app

Canada: All Canadian national team games can be seen on OneSoccer, which is available to stream on fuboTV.

USA: In the United States, the Canadian national team match can be seen on FOX Deportes, with streaming available on fuboTV.

Facebook Comments Box

Hits: 0

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR