by Cheeta
Once again Canada finds itself in what will likely be the most closely contested match of the Quarter final round of this years Gold Cup as the Group A winners face off against the Group B runner ups, Honduras. The match from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia with will be available on Roger's SportsNet across all broadcast regions beginning 5 PM EST.
Stephan Hart and his squad have their groove on in this summers federation championship and should they win through to the semi-finals this afternoon will be traveling to Soldier Field in Chicago for a Thursday night contest against the winner of Quarterfinal #2, Group B winners, USA and the 3rd place wild-card group stage team from Group C, Panama.
For Canada who so infamously crashed out of World Cup Qualifying for South Africa 2010 last year there can be no denying this year's Gold Cup represents the best opportunity to regain a measure of their dignity and provide a glimmer of light at the end of the very long and very dark tunnel Canadian soccer fans have been traveling through these many years.
And though its unwise to look ahead it is also very hard not to when the chance of a semi-final against the tournament favourate American side is within sight. It is hard not to recall the 2007 Gold Cup semi-final match between the USA and Canada which ended in so much controversy and so much disappointment for Canada. You'd be hard pressed to find a Canadian soccer supporter who isn't keen at the opportunity for a little payback under (hopefully) more fair conditions.
But first things first. Honduras would welcome a “home match” against the USA in Chicago to and have the tools to get to that likely semi-final opponent if Canada allows them. For Canada, no matter what lays ahead, this afternoon's test is a chance to send a stern message to CONCACAF by claiming another scalp from The Hex.