Canada’s national futsal team were knocked out of the 2021 Concacaf Futsal Championship in Guatemala City, Guatemala on penalties Friday, falling to Panama in a do-or-die quarterfinal and chance to qualify for the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
With the loss, Canada continued a 30-year absence from the World Cup, having last made the finals in 1989 – their only appearance to date.
Canada had a great chance to take the lead two minutes into the match, as Maxime Leconte and Damion Graham were in on goal. Leconte fell onto the ball, sitting on it and keeping it out of the Panama goal to deny Canada the early lead. That would be their best chance of the first half, but it was Panama who went into the break with the lead. With about 22 seconds left, a cross-goal shot beat Josh Lemos in the Canada goal to give Panama the 1-0 advantage. Both sides were solid defensively in the first 20, but that goal halted any momentum Canada had just before the break.
For the third match in a row, Ian Bennett got on the scoresheet for Canada, equalizing about six minutes into the second half. After a free-kick from Eduardo Jauregui, the ball fell to Bennett, who made no mistake from close range.
Neither country found the back of the net again in the next 14 minutes, and extra time was needed to find a winner. After ten more scoreless minutes penalties were required, with a spot in the World Cup on the line.
Canada’s Nazim Belguendouz smashed home the first penalty of the shootout, but Panama’s first shooter equalized. Canada missed their second penalty, while Panama scored theirs, before the opposite happened in the third round, thanks in part to a big stop from Lemos. After three kicks each, it was 2-2. Marco Rodriguez gave Canada the lead with a goal in the fourth round, but Bennett missed Canada’s fifth, while Panama converted their last two shots, to earn themselves the victory, a spot in the semifinals, and entry into the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Forge FC assistant coach Kyt Selaidopoulos is the Canada head coach, having held the position since 2016.