Canada finishes Junior World Cup with 2-1 loss to Egypt

Two second half goals led Egypt the 2-1 victory over Canada Friday at the 2016 Junior World Cup in India, giving the Egyptians a 15th place finish and Canada 16th spot.

Rohan Chopra scored for Canada late in the first half to give the Canadians the lead – their first of the tournament.

In a re-match of the 15th place match from the 2013 Junior World Cup – which Egypt won 3-0 – Canada and Egypt were each looking for their first wins of the tournament this year.

The Egyptians tested Canadian keeper Iqwinder Gill early, with a chance in the 4th minute that he was able to kick away.

Canada then made its first foray into the Egypt end in the 7th minute and Kabir Aujla was able to find his way into the circle and take a shot on goal from in close, but he was stopped by Ahmed Adel.

From then on, Egypt picked up the pressure.

Gill was busy through the first half, with Egypt picking up penalty corners in quick succession 15 minutes in. Of the three penalty corners in three minutes, Egypt was only able to manage one shot on goal, which Gill blockered away.

He had to be sharp again soon after as in the 24th minute, the Egyptians had three consecutive chances off the rush, but Gill was able to turn away Abdelrahman Yossri on a breakaway, and followed that up by turning away Adelrahman Kasem and Ahmed Alganaini to keep the game scoreless.

Knowing they had likely dodged a bullet, Canada began to press forward but was not immediately rewarded with passage through the Egyptian defence.

In the 34th minute, however, as Egypt tried to clear its zone, Rohan Chopra made a quick interception and Canada pushed its way into the Egyptian circle, where Balraj Panesar – back in the lineup after missing the classification match against Korea – smashed a ball on goal which was stopped.

In the process, though, Canada picked up its first short corner of the game.

Brandon Pereira’s drag flick attempt was partially stopped by Adel, but the ball squeaked through towards the goal line and Chopra went to ground and on his second attempt put the ball in to give Canada the 1-0 lead in the final moments of the first half.

The second half had a slow start, but Egypt’s attempts to mount the comeback resulted in more work for Gill as the half progressed. He turned away an attempt on a corner in the 46th minute, but in the 58th Mohamed Gadelkarim was able to put a drag flick over the stick of the post man and by Gill to tie the game at one.

It looked as though the game might be headed to a shootout, but in the final moments a lucky bounce sent the ball over the stick of defender Gavin Bains at the top of the Canadian circle and onto the stick of an open Elganaini, who quickly moved into a position to shoot and let go of a reverse stick shot that beat Gill for Egypt’s second goal and the lead.

Canada had a late corner but weren’t able to put an attempt on goal and went on to take the loss.