VANCOUVER — It began early, with chants of Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé ringing out over the province’s largest city, as thousands of Mexican fans made Robson Street their own as they approached B.C. Place before the game.
Their sharply talented national team then also made the inside of the raucous stadium its own in a 3-0, fourth-round CONCACAF World Cup Russia 2018 qualifying victory against a stressed and over-matched Canada.
“There is a level of disappointment because this was a big opportunity to stake a claim in front of such a big crowd,” said starting Canadian defender Adam Straith of Victoria.
“Hopefully, they saw an honest effort. That was a very good Mexican team. They pressured us high and played off our mistakes. They exploited.”
The crowd of 54,798 was the largest ever to watch a Canadian team play soccer.
It eclipsed the previous record for Canadian soccer, when 54,027 came out to B.C. Place last summer for the 2015 FIFA women’s World Cup quarter-final between Canada and England. That was also a Canadian loss.
The Canadian supporters, including several thousand from the Island, did their best to urge on the home side. Included in that total were more than 500 fans from the Bays United Soccer Association, which produced Straith and Canadian spare goalkeeper Simon Thomas.
“It was tough trying to outcheer the Mexican fans, but we did our best … this is such a great atmosphere,” chimed in Ben Tyson and Sol Eisenhauer from Bays United U-15.
Added dad Bill Eisenhauer: “I’m missing the Royals’ playoff opener for this. But I will be there [tonight] for Game 2.”
A cynic might suggest after Friday that maybe Canada should stick to hockey.
It was a happier outcome for two-year-old Emiliano Velazquez of Victoria, decked out in a tiny Javier Hernandez No. 14 Mexican jersey. The tot was at the game with Island parents Victor and Elise.
“He’s our little pea and has been watching soccer on TV since he was born,” said Victor.
Indeed, it was Bayer Leverkusen’s Hernandez, the clever striker known as Chicharito (Little Pea), who gave Mexico the lead at 31 minutes with a header.
Then the Little Pea’s deft give-and-go with scorer Hirving Lozano made it 2-0 at 40 minutes and it was basically over.
Gustavo Martinez of Victoria, who like his friend, Victor Velazquez, was born in Mexico, was here as a fan with his wife, Siobhan, and wearing his Mexico jersey. But Martinez admitted to being a bit torn between his two countries.
“I can still cheer for Canada with this jersey,” he said with a smile.
Straith was happy for the support, especially from the Island.
“The crowd was fantastic and was the shining point of the night,” he said.
“It was unbelievable to see the support from the Island, but not surprising, because we all know what a tight soccer community there is in Victoria.”
El Salvador and Honduras tied 2-2 in the other Group A game played Friday.
That leaves leading Mexico on the full nine points at 3-0 , second-place Canada on four points at 1-1-1, third-place El Salvador on two points at 0-1-2 and last-place Honduras on one point at 0-2-1.
World No. 87 Canada now faces the arduous return leg Tuesday against No. 22 Mexico in the intimidating cauldron of 95,000-seat Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which in the past has reduced visiting CONCACAF teams to putty.
“We are all professionals and that was just one game we lost tonight … and we look forward to the next one Tuesday,” said Straith, who earned his 34th cap Friday, and is the only player who has played every minute of 2018 World Cup qualifying for Canada through seven games.
Canada opened fourth-round qualifying play last November with a 1-0 win against Honduras at B.C. Place followed by a scoreless draw in El Salvador.
Canada closes the round with an away fixture at No. 89 Honduras on Sept. 2 followed by a home game against No. 99 El Salvador on Sept. 6 in the likely decider.
The top two teams in Group A will advance to next year’s six-team final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, from which the top three will advance to Russia 2018, and the fourth-place finisher will play Asia No. 5.
Canada has not qualified for the Word Cup since 1986, when Island players Ian Bridge, Jamie Lowery and George Pakos played and veteran UVic Vikes coach Bruce Wilson captained. That is the drought Straith and Thomas, both Lower Island Metro graduates, and their Canadian teammates are trying to end.
