Jaime Peters was a 55th minute substitute for the Canadian national ‘soccer’ team in their friendly match in Buenos Aires against World Cup hopefuls Argentina, but he was unable to stem the tide in a woeful 5-0 defeat.
Indeed, despite a few creative moments, Peters made his own contribution to Canada’s demise by conceding possession just before Argentina’s coup de grace, their fifth goal, scored by late substitute Aguero.
May 24th is a national holiday for each country, but only Argentina’s team gave their nation an additional cause to celebrate. Canada’s Trinidadian head coach, Stephen Hart, was recently handed a long-term contract after an initial interim appointment, but he must be wondering about the wisdom of his acceptance as he heads north to his new home after this hammering.
Hoping to use this game against a top world football power to assess his team’s readiness to compete for qualification for the 2014 World Cup, he now must wonder just where the road to international respectability can possibly begin.
Hart found himself without the services of six intended starters, including Julian de Guzman and Iain Hume, but still found no place in his completely new midfield for Jaime Peters, who was hampered by his lack of an obvious starting position because of his recent club versatility, as noted by TV pundit Craig Forrest.
Peters eventually entered the fray as a replacement for Nik Ledgerwood, with Canada already trailing 3-0. Peters initially assumed a central midfield position, but soon moved to the right.
Maxi Rodriguez may have been no use to Liverpool this year, but he had quickly proven his value to Argentina with two goals in the first 32 minutes. Di Maria had added a brilliant third after Canada’s only approximate star, Dwayne de Rosario, dribbled into trouble in his own final third.
Canada in recent years has been an uninspiring attacking force, but could always rely on some stingy defending when Town stalwarts Forrest, Yallop and De Vos were contributing. In this game, however, the defending was calamitous, and next weekend’s opponents, Venezuela, must be salivating. Peters has already been spared that ordeal, Hart having named two distinct squads for the two Latin fixtures.
Peters "has some pace”, as Forrest observed, but after his introduction his few probing runs and through balls failed to trouble the magisterial Argentines and Tevez added a simple fourth goal in the 63rd minute after another Canadian defensive atrocity.
Shortly afterwards. Peters himself surrendered possession with a poor pass during a rare Canadian attack, and after a superb and so typical Argentine counter-attack, Aguero rounded out the scoring at the 70 minute mark and firmly underlined the gulf between these two sides.
Simeon Jackson was a late Canadian substitute, and Craig Forrest observed that it was a good opportunity to see Peters and the Gillingham star work together. Perhaps he knows something!
It must be stated that before Peters’s appearance, the Argentine goal had been under no threat, and in the last 35 minutes there were actually a couple of goal attempts. Peters also made one outstanding back-tracking run to prevent another goal.
Additionally, he showed his courage when almost being decapitated in a midfield tussle. However, Canada needed much more than the off-the-bench contribution from a Championship fringe player to trouble their imperious opponents.
This may have only been Canada opposing them today, but the team in light blue and white, even though Messi-less, was impressively dangerous and showed themselves likely to be a force to be reckoned with in South Africa. Carlos Tevez, revealed by Craig Forrest to be currently the most popular Argentinian footballer, ran the show, and as always was intimidating in sky blue.
Peters will be glad to return to Portman Road. Argentina are just warming up and the unkempt Maradona looks increasingly like a street-dweller, but also like a contender!
Elsewhere, Connor Wickham was rested as England’s U17s completed their European U17 Championships group games with a 2-1 victory over Turkey. England face France in the semi-finals of the Liechtenstein-based tournament on Thursday.
Thanks to our man in Canada Readtheleaguetable for the report