Saiko scores Canada's lone goal as Canada's under-20 team ties Argentina 1-1

By: Lori Ewing, THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO - Argentina's goal celebration was barely beginning to wind down when Canada's Shaun Saiko stifled it for good.

Saiko, a midfielder from St. Albert, Alta., scored the tying goal Sunday as Canada's men's under-20 soccer team played Argentina to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly.

"It just shows how much character we've got, coming back from that is huge, and the quicker we can get a goal, we're back in the game," Saiko said. "As soon as the ball goes in the back in the net, all you can think about is working harder as a team and getting the ball back until you get a goal back up. I think we did that well."

Saiko got his head on a cross from Gabe Gala of Brampton, Ont., in the 59th minute, firing the ball past Argentina 'keeper Diego Rodriguez in front of a small crowd on a cold and blustery afternoon at BMO field, which celebrated its one-year anniversary.

The Canadian goal came just three minutes after the defending U-20 World Cup champion Gauchos got on the scoreboard, when Jonaton Lopez headed in the ball off a free kick past Canadian 'keeper Michal Misiewicz of Calgary.

"It's a sign of strong character," Canadian coach Ray Clark of the quick comeback. "It's not easy against a team like Argentina, when you've worked as hard as you have, and things suddenly go wrong like that. . . to recover to get an equalizer is a great testament to their character."

The game marked the first decent chance for Canadian soccer officials to evaluate this age group - players born in 1989 or later - with the focus on qualifying for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

This particular group hadn't played together since a pair of exhibition games against Scotland two years ago, and Clark admitted he didn't know quite what to expect Sunday, especially against a team like Argentina, winners of last summer's FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.

"I had expectations from one extreme to the other extreme," Clark said. "When you're playing a team like Argentina, you know you're going to be up against it. Our goal really was to make it as tough to get through our midfield as possible and if we win the ball, try to push forward.

"We did have some expectations, but the boys exceeded my expectations today."

Argentina dominated much of the possession and outshot Canada 10-4, but the Canadians held their own against the skilled and physical Argentine side.

"We were happy, it was our first game in two years at the age group, we only had a week to prepare - to tie 1-1 against Argentina, we'd always be happy," said Canadian captain Nana Attakora-Gyan of Brampton, Ont.

Gala nearly made it a Canada victory in the 86th minute when he spun with the ball, firing a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that Rodriguez dove to get his hands on.

Argentina head coach Sergio Batista complained about the artificial turf through an interpreter in the post-game press conference, saying his players weren't used to it.

"Everyone complains about the turf, but you just have to play," said Attakora-Gyan, who practises on the turf daily with Toronto FC. "Some players on our team had injuries because of the turf, they still played, I don't think anyone can use that as an excuse."

Argentina carried much the momentum in the first half with several decent scoring chances, the best coming in the 32nd minute when Eduardo Salvio fired a shot from just outside the box that came from a turnover in Canada's midfield. Brampton native Adam Street, who played in net for Canada in the first half, leapt to just get his hand on the ball, tipping it over the net.

The Canadians had trouble generating any significant scoring chances, unable to penetrate Argentina's formidable back line. Canada's best chance came on a corner kick in the 36th minute, that Jarek Whiteman of Brampton got his head on but sent well over the crossbar, and the first half ended 0-0.

Last year's version of Canada's under-20 men's team lost 2-1 to Argentina in a friendly exactly a year ago, which marked the official opening of BMO Field.

The Argentines went on to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup, beating the Czech Republic 2-1 in the final. Canada, meanwhile, failed to win a game or score a goal and was dispatched in three games.

Argentina had no players on its roster Sunday from that championship squad, while Canada had three in Attakora-Gyan, Gala, and Marcus Haber of Vancouver.

The small crowd was the one major disappointment Sunday, looking far more sparse than the announced gathering of 5,136. Full sections of the stadium sat empty, and the sky-blue and white jerseys of Argentina outnumbered Canada's red and white among the bundled-up fans. Mothers Day and the chilly weather probably didn't help ticket sales, along with the prices - tickets for the game ranged from $20 to $85.

Notes: Midfielder Joey Melo of Milton, Ont., received a yellow card early in the second half.