The team scoring first has a 67 percent chance of winning a soccer game, depending on whatever number-crunching research or oddsmaker you follow.
So far, the men’s national team of Canada has beaten the odds.
In four of their six matches in CONCACAF’s Octagonal round of World Cup qualifying, the Canadians have lost 1-0. With the exception of a 0-0 stalemate with Jamaica, Canada has only scored first once in this round.
Yet, the Canadians are undefeated, with two wins and four draws. They’ve come back from one down to draw both the United States and Mexico. They’ve gone down early at home to both Honduras and Panama, and got a draw and a win.
Going into two home games in Edmonton — against Costa Rica on Friday and Mexico on Tuesday — the Canadians are confident they can come back again, even if their form of giving up early goals continue.
“It doesn’t matter,” coach John Herdman said after the team’s training session at Commonwealth Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The Canadians are optimistic that they can fight back in their next two home games in Edmonton, against Costa Rica on Friday and Mexico on Tuesday, even if their recent trend of conceding early goals continues.
“It doesn’t matter,” coach John Herdman said after the team’s training session at Commonwealth Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Source_ The Canadian Press
