Macedonia blasts Canada in soccer friendly
Last Updated: Saturday, November 14, 2009 | 12:09 PM ET
By John F. Molinaro CBC Sports
Canada's Kevin McKenna, centre, jumps for the ball with Macedonia's Ilco Naumoski, left, as Canada's goalkeeper Josh Wagenaar looks on during Saturday's friendly. (Boris Grdanoski/Associated Press) Canada suffered a 3-0 loss to Macedonia in Strumica on Saturday, the first of two exhibition matches the Canadian national team will play in Europe over the next five days.
Canada currently sits 53rd in the FIFA world rankings, 13 spots ahead of Macedonia, but it was the home side that looked far more dangerous on Saturday, potting three goals in the second half to hand the Canadians the loss.
Goce Sedloski opened the scoring for Macedonia, while teammate Goran Pandev netted a pair.
Canada now sports a 4-1-2 record since interim coach Stephen Hart took over in April.
"We played poorly in the first half and deserved the result," said Hart. "We never played with confidence or responsibility in the first half."
Macedonia dominated proceedings in the opening 45 minutes, forcing goalkeeper Josh Wagenaar to make a handful of saves.
The home team continued where it left off at the start of the second half by putting Canada under pressure and took the lead in the 48th minute when Sedloski scored on a header off a corner kick.
Canada was awarded a penalty when Filip Despotovski was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the penalty area. Iain Hume stepped up to take the penalty shot for Canada, but he missed. Simeon Jackson also missed from the penalty spot in the 70th minute for Canada.
Macedonia padded its leads eight minutes after Despotovski's goal, as Pandev converted from the penalty spot.
Pandev scored again from the penalty spot in the 90th minute to seal the win for Macedonia.
Saturday’s international friendly was Canada's first match since the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer, when it lost to Honduras in the quarter-finals.
Of note, Paul Stalteri earned his 78th cap for Canada, moving him into a tie with Mark Watson for all-time national team appearances, and five back of overall leader Randy Samuel.
Stalteri also set a new team record by making his 77th starting appearance for Canada.
Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault earned his first career cap for Canada when he entered the game as a substitute for Julian de Guzman in the 88th minute.
Canada defeated Macedonia 1-0 in Toronto on May 18, 1998, in the only previous match between the two countries.
Canada plays Poland in another international friendly on Nov. 18 in Bydgoszcz.
