Sports

Thursday Mar 23, 2017

Aird goal helps Canada draw at Scotland

Canada’s Fraser Aird (#12) watches his shot head towards goal in an international friendly against host Scotland on March 22, 2017, in Edinburgh. (Photo courtesy of Canada Soccer)

EDINBURGH, Scotland – Canada played host Scotland to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly on Wednesday, before 9,158 fans at Easter Road.

With the result, the Canadians remained unbeaten in 2017, also posting a 4-2 win at Bermuda on January 22.

Midfielder Fraser Aird, who is based in Scotland with Falkirk, gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.  After Maxim Tissot’s left-sided cross was misplayed by Scotland defenders Lee Wallace and Charlie Mulgrew in the box, Aird, 22, was there to fire in with his right foot from 13-yards out for his first international goal.

Robert Snodgrass nearly equalized minutes later, when his left-footed cross from 38 yards skipped through the box, only to rebound off the left post.

In the 35th minute, Scotland leveled in pinball fashion.  The Canadians couldn’t clear the ball after goalkeeper Simon Thomas made an initial save.  Tom Cairney drove an effort towards goal that teammate Steven Naismith redirected into the right side of the net.

Canada’s best chance to regain the lead came in the 78th minute, but goalkeeper Allan McGregor did well to thwart Aird’s bid for a brace in his fifth international appearance.

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Cameron looking to boost USA’s WCQ campaign

Thursday Mar 23, 2017

Geoff Cameron (pictured) has played in six games and scored two goals during the USA’s qualifying campaign for Russia 2018. (Photo: Victor Straffon/Straffon Images)

SAN JOSE, California — After being out of action four months for club and country, United States standout Geoff Cameron is eager for a return to the international stage.

Forced to miss the first two games of the CONCACAF Hexagonal last November with a knee injury, the Stoke City defender admitted he felt powerless watching his teammates during a 4-0 loss at Costa Rica.

Cameron is ready to get the last-place U.S. (0W-0D-2L, 0 points) back on track in FIFA World Cup qualifying, hosting fourth-place Honduras (1-0-1, 3) at Avaya Stadium on Friday night.

“It was difficult,” said the 31-year-old.  “I was going through an injury back in England and things weren’t getting better, watching the game being helpless, knowing I could have been a player who affect the game.  We lacked the energy, we lacked the aggressiveness that I bring and the quality that I can provide.”

A center back, Cameron arguably is the most consistent U.S. defender.  The Americans are searching for backline stability after conceding six goals in the opening two matches.

“We dug ourselves a little bit of a hole, but we should be fine,” he commented.  “If we can perform very well Friday night and show that we can play with our confidence, and play our game plan, we should be OK.”

Honduras, one of three teams to beat the U.S. at home in qualifiers the past 30 years, has always been a thorn in the Americans’ sides.

“They’re a tough team,” stated Cameron.  “They’re a resilient team.  They have a good block on defense and have a couple of guys up top with some speed and some skill.  We just got to make sure we control the game and dictate the pace of the game.”

Cameron felt that Bruce Arena, who replaced Jurgen Klinsmann as head coach, has given the team a breath of fresh air.

“It’s a different system, a different energy, a different feeling,” he finished.  “The players haven’t changed much.  You see some coaches come in and change the whole feeling of the team.  Maybe that’s what we needed.

“This is a big game and we have to take care of business.”

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