Canada advance, but lose home field

Switzerland 2-1 Canada

VANCOUVER, BC–Canada advanced to the knockout stage for the first time in their history, but will have to continue their run South of the Border after falling to Switzerland, 2-1, at BC Place. The Swiss win the group while Canada finish second. The Swiss will get to stay in Vancouver and face a 3rd place team a week from tomorrow while Canada will play the runner up from Group A on Sunday in Los Angeles.

After a goalless first half, Switzerland started the second half taking advantage of a defensive breakdown as Johan Manzambi was able to feed Reuben Vargas for an opening score in the 46th minute. Eleven minutes later, Manzambi got his own goal after a slip by Luc de Fougerolles.

Canada pressed to get back into the match and got a goal back in the Promise David got on the end of a chip from Nathan Saliba in the 76ht minute. However, an equalizer would not come that would have given Canada the group.

“It’s definitely a bit frustrating because that crowd’s been so good for us, and it’s kind of a letdown that we can’t play another game in front of them,” said right back Alistair Johnston.

“But at the same time, look, we’re in the knockout stage of a World Cup. There’s quite a bit of excitement with that right now. I was a bit disappointed, obviously, in the room, but, again, it shows how far we’ve come.”

It is progress for Canada in this World Cup from winning their first match to advancing to the knockout stages for the first time. However, the remainder of the journey will take place outside Canada starting on Sunday in Los Angeles against either South Korea, Czechia, or South Africa (noon PT, Fox/Telemundo).