CSA Release – Canada’s Men’s U-16 Team has finished with a record of 1-2 after their three group stage matches at the Montaigu Tournament in France.
Playing out of Group A in the eight-team tournament, Canada got off to a flying start with a 1:0 victory over the host French team on Tuesday 15 April. Toronto FC Academy defender Gabriel Boakye scored the winner with a long-range shot that caught the French goalkeeper off his line but it was also hit with power and precision.
Two days later, the young Canadians came up against a strong Turkish team that was the defending champions in the tournament. Turkey showed their pedigree as they came away as 2:0 winners.
With a shot at moving into the final round on the line, Canada came up against the Côte D’Ivoire and, despite a strong effort from the team, they couldn’t get the necessary three points to advance, instead finishing on the wrong end of a 2:1 result.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency forward Terran Campbell scored the lone goal for Canada on a free kick. They’ll have one final consolation game against Saudi Arabia on Monday.
The team is building for next year’s 2015 CONCACAF Under-17 Championships that serve as qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015, and Head Coach Sean Fleming certainly has his team on the right path after more than holding their own against some of the elite programs in the world.