(Houston) Canada battled to a 0-0 draw against Guatemala on Saturday night, a result that left the men’s national soccer team with their backs to the wall in the CONCACAF Gold Cup game.
Canada came into the game hoping for a win to boost their chances of moving out of Group D, but were outplayed by Guatemala for long stretches.
Canada pushed in the closing stages of the match.
Striker Jacob Shaffelburg had a chance at the 75e minute, but failed to get a clean shot allowing goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen to make the save. Zac McGraw had a chance on the same streak, but put the ball over the net.
A few minutes later, central defender Steven Vitoria fired a shot that Hagen saved.
Guadeloupe and Guatemala topped Group D with four points from a win and a draw.
Canada picked up two points from the two draws.
Canada, ranked 47e in the FIFA rankings, will face Cuba, ranked 165e rank, Tuesday in Houston in a must-see game.
The match was played in front of a raucous crowd and in favor of the Guatemalans in 34 degrees Celsius heat and 65% humidity at Shell Energy Stadium.
Guadeloupe beat Cuba 4-1 earlier on Saturday.
Canada is playing without some of its biggest names like Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan, Alistair Johnston, Atiba Hutchinson and Ismael Kone.