Fraser Aird scored his first senior international goal as the Canadian men’s national team drew 1-1 with Scotland in a friendly on Wednesday in Edinburgh.
Aird, a former Scottish youth international, struck after just 11 minutes following a mishit clearance by Scotland’s defence. Steven Naismith equalized in the 35th minute in a similar fashion as Canadian defenders failed to clear the ball out of danger.
The 22-year-old recently lost his father, who passed away earlier this year. Aird said that the goal was dedicated to his late dad.
“Obviously delighted,” said Aird after the game. “He must’ve been watching down on me today. I have to say, also, that goal was for him, first goal for my country. He was a big part of my decision to play for Canada, even though he was Scottish, so all credit to him for that I think that I’ve made the right decision.
“A chance to play for your country is amazing and to get a chance to score my 1st goal for Canada is just amazing.”
Nik Ledgerwood, wearing the captain’s armband for Canada, became the 26th player in the national team’s history to earn 50 senior caps. The FC Edmonton man was one of six North American-based players in the squad.
This was Canada’s first match since the CSA hired Octavio Zambrano as its new head coach. However, it was interim boss Michael Findlay who was on the touchline in Edinburgh.
“I would say that we also look at it and say that we had opportunities to win the game,” said Findlay. “I think that’s probably the most positive thing that comes from it, that you can actually come out of a game like that with a performance like that, with a draw, but to also have those opportunities. To go up 1-0 was another positive moment for us because we’ve struggled to be in those positions in the past.”
The quality of the pitch at Easter Road had an effect in the opening minutes as neither side could cope with the bounce of the ball. Canada continually attacked down the left flank, and Aird capitalized off botched clearances by Lee Wallace and Charlie Mulgrew.
Aird was one of two Scottish youth internationals in Canada’s starting XI. Livingston native Scott Arfield was also in the lineup for his seventh cap. He left the match in second-half stoppage time with an apparent injury.
Another youngster who impressed along with Aird was Marco Bustos. The Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder started in a central attacking role and looked lively throughout the game. Findlay was pleased with both of their performances and is excited by the quality coming through the Canadian game these days.
“Really impressed again. I think we’re displaying the qualities that exist in our program. Given the opportunity to play, these players perform and we’re looking at players of potential, we’re not looking at players who are maybe established and are nearing the end of their international career. This is the beginning of their career. So you have to look very positively on their performance and what they provided tonight.”
Scotland ramped up the pressure following Aird’s opener and was especially threatening down Canada’s left flank through Ikechi Anya and Robert Snodgrass. Manjrekar James and goalkeeper Simon Thomas were equal to the task, with James making a couple of crucial blocks to keep the clean sheet intact.
Coincidentally, the hosts equalized off a mistimed clearance by the Canadian backline and Naismith pounced to make it 1-1.
Scotland won the possession battle in the second half, but failed to produce a lot of quality chances until stoppage time when Jordan Rhodes fired a shot wide from point-blank range.
Canada’s next match will be in Montreal on June 13 when it hosts Curacao in a friendly. Meanwhile, Scotland shifts its attention to World Cup qualifying on Sunday against Slovenia. The Scots are four points adrift of second place in Group F, and a defeat would almost certainly end their hopes of reaching the final tournament in 2018.
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