TORONTO -- A pair of goals just four minutes apart gave Peru a 2-0 win over Canada in an international friendly at BMO Field Saturday.
Jose Carlos Fernandez and Jean Tragodara scored for the visitors on a cold and at times rainy afternoon on the shores of Lake Ontario. A boisterous crowd of 10,619 took in the match.
The match was the first on home soil for the Canadian men's national team in nearly two years. Canada is currently ranked 101st in the FIFA world rankings while its opponent from Peru sits at No. 39.
Canadian head coach Stephen Hart fielded the strongest lineup available with Toronto FC midfielders Julian De Guzman and Dwayne De Rosario lined up behind Hertha BSC striker Rob Friend and Norwich City's Simeon Jackson.
Lars Hirschfeld, who plays his club soccer in for Valerenga Fotball in Norway, earned the start in net.
Toronto FC defender Nana Attakora was a late scratch with Adam Straith filling in a centre back.
The Peruvian side owned the lion's share of chances in the first half but was unable to beat the Canadian goalkeeper. A late attempt on goal by Friend gave Canada its best chance, but the two teams headed to the locker room without a goal.
The match remained scoreless until the 68th minute when Canada failed to clear a Peru cross and Fernandez headed home a second cross in to the 18-yard box to make it 1-0.
Just four minutes later a clever give-and-go through the middle of the Canadian defence allowed Tragodara to slide a low shot past the diving Hirschfeld.
Canadian defender Paul Stalteri made his 82nd appearance for the national team, tying him with 1986 World Cup squad member Randy Samuel. If Hart selects Stalteri for the friendly against Honduras in Montreal Tuesday the 32-year-old will take over the record.
Canada will now face Honduras Tuesday in Montreal in the second of the two international friendlies scheduled for September.
Lineup:
Lars Hirschfeld; Marcel de Jong (Jaime Peters, 30) Kevin McKenna, Adam Straith, Paul Stalteri; Julian de Guzman, Will Johnson (Iain Hume, 62), Atiba Hutchinson, Simeon Jackson (Josh Simpson, 62); Rob Friend (Issey Nakajima-Farran, 85), Dwayne De Rosario
NOTES: It is expected that de Guzman, De Rosario and Nana will not play in the second friendly Tuesday and instead return to Toronto FC for its match against Chicago on Wednesday … the announced attendance Saturday was 10,619... Head coach Stephen Hart was forced to make an early substitution when defender Marcel De Jong suffered an arm injury and was replaced by Jaime Peters in the 30th minute.
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