FISU GAMES: Canada eliminated from medal contention in men's soccer
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2011 Summer Universiade
Men's soccer: Canada eliminated from medal contention
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Aug. 14, 2011
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SHENZHEN, China (CIS) - Canada's dreams of advancing to the medal round in men's soccer at the Summer Universiade were turned into a nightmare on Sunday night, as a talented Japanese squadron cruised to a 6-1 win to hand the Canadians their second loss in as many outings.
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STATISTICS:
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Canada (0-2) closes out Pool D play against Ghana (0-1-1) Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. local time (7:30 a.m. ET). Ghana lost 1-0 to Great Britain (2-0) on Sunday.
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"Unfortunately our defence didn't click as a unit, they scored a goal six minutes in and our heads just didn't seem to be in the game after that," said Team Canada head coach Steve Hart from the University of Windsor. "I give all the credit in the world to the Japanese, they attacked us, they created their good fortune, every time they shot the ball it went in and each time we struck a ball it just couldn't find the back of the net. We had moments where we dominated, but we couldn't turn it into goals and our defence just didn't work as a unit."
Only six minutes into the game Nobuyuki Shiina drove up the left side of the pitch, getting in behind the Canadian defence and finishing sharply to put Japan ahead 1-0. In the 13th minute, Masaki Miyasaka potted the game winner, while Yuji Senuma (21st) and Takamitsu Tomiyama (31st) also scored before Canada got on the sheet in the 38th minute on an own goal.
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Tomiyama added his second of the night in the 44th minute. Yosuke Yuzawa rounding out the scoring in the 48th minute with the lone marker of the second half.
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"We did slightly better in the second half, we rallied but by then the damage was done," added Hart. "We have to move on from this, we have Ghana left and can salvage a third place finish in our pool with a win."
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Team Canada website:
2011 Summer Universiade website:
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About the Summer Universiade
The Summer Universiade is an international multi-sport event that
takes place every two years and is second only to the Olympic Games
in the number of participating athletes and countries. Close to
9,000 athletes from over 150 countries will compete in Shenzhen.
The Universiade is open to competitors who are at least 17 and less
than 28 years of age as of January 1 in the year of the Games.
Participants must be full-time students at a post-secondary
institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a
post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.
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-CIS-
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For more information:
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Michel B茅langer
Manager, Communications & Media Relations
Team Canada - 2011 Summer Universiade
Cell: 134-3059-0769
(note: from Canada dial 011-86 prior to number)
belanger [at] universitysport.ca
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