Canada's First FIFA U-17 World Cup Victory
Elijah Roche scored in the 88th minute and Marius Aiyenero converted a stoppage-time penalty as Canada secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Uganda on Wednesday. This marks Canada's first-ever victory in nine appearances at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Match Summary
- James Bogere opened the scoring in the 25th minute, giving Uganda a moment to celebrate in their tournament debut.
- Roche, who earlier made a crucial goal-saving tackle, equalized by heading in a corner from Aghilas Sadek late in the game in Doha, Qatar.
- After a video review, Uganda’s John Asiimwe was penalized for a foul on Aiyenero inside the box, leading to a penalty.
- Substitute Aiyenero, who plays for Los Angeles FC 2, converted the penalty in the 98th minute to win the match.
Historical Context and Records
Canada’s under-17 men’s team now holds a record of 1 win, 20 losses, and 4 draws at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Since hosting the tournament in 1987, the team has been outscored 71-13 across 25 matches, with one of those goals coming from an Argentine own goal.
"Tonight is a proud moment for our program," said Canada head coach Mike Vitulano. "We wanted to set a new benchmark for the generations to come and did just that. The boys showed incredible character to come from behind, fight their way back and find a way to win late. It's a testament to their belief and togetherness. We'll enjoy this moment, but we're an ambitious group and our focus quickly shifts to preparing for the next match."
Next Steps
The team aims to build on this historic win as they prepare for upcoming tournament matches with renewed ambition and confidence.
Author's summary: Canada’s U-17 men’s soccer team achieved their first-ever World Cup win with a comeback victory over Uganda, showcasing resilience and setting a new standard for future teams.