Best Moment Following the National Team

[Sam]

Reading through the Best All Time Starting-XI's thread it got me wishing I'd been following Canada for much longer. As someone who started watching the national team post - 2000 Gold Cup I don't have a whole lot of fantastic moments watching the national team, but there are a few that stick out. It doesn't matter what age-level or competition I'm just curious what everyone's favourite moments watching Canada have been.

[Sam]

For me personally there are three that stick out.

1 - My first ever Canada goal Paul Peschisolido vs. Belize at Richardson in 2004. At the time I only casually followed Canada so it wasn't a huge deal then, but looking back on it that goal sort of sparked this obsession with the Canadian Men's national team.

2 - Serioux scoring against Honduras in Montreal. Biggest Canadian goal I've ever seen. For this blissful 45 minute period I was convinced we were going to South Africa. What followed is by far my low light following the national team.

3 - Revenge against Honduras a few weeks ago. Sure it was just a friendly and not enough to make up for two years pervious but now I can look back on a Canada-Honduras game at Saputo with fond memories. Great night.

Those are the best of the ones I've been at, but I also want to throw one just from watching TV out there.

2007 Gold Cup Quarterfinal vs. Guatemala, we were up 3-0 within the first half. That tic-tac-toe goal by Gerba is still the best I've seen Canada score and the performance in that half was the best I've ever seen from a Canadian team.

[Keano]

In no particular order:

- DeGuzman scoring against Brazil. My brother and I screamed and jumped out of our seats it was amazing. I know it seems minor but we were really excited about it.

- The entire experience of beating Honduras the other week. Under a thunderstorm, revenge for the WCQ loss (which I had been there for also), and just a great, fun atmosphere.

- The Serioux goal in said embarrassment.

I have only been following the National team closely for about 4 years.

[yomurphy1]

- Watching my first ever Canada game against Brazil and watching Canada put up a fight.

- Watching my first live Canada game against Peru

[deschamp86]

1. De Rosario scoring against Costa Rica to tie the game up a few years ago at BMO (My first live game)

2. Hutchinson scoring the game tying goal against the U.S. in the Gold Cup (Until the goal didn't count)

[CanadianSoccerFan]

The Serioux goal against Honduras. Being there for that was special. 2nd half not so much...

[Footscray]

Hastings vs Mexico in the Gold Cup hands down for me. I just had no hope of them knocking out Mexico at all and it made it that much sweeter.

I wasn't around for Canada's World Cup so for me there has never been a bigger goal in a meaningful competition against a quality team.

[Tuscan]

My fondest live was Radz's goal vs. Mexico in Edmonton WCQ08. His reaction really added to it as well, he was so pumped to have bagged that one, it was great to see. McKenna's winner against Honduras earlier this month was also a great one to have seen.

Really wish I could have seen Serioux's goal vs. Honduras in Montreal live. I'm really bummed I wasn't at either the Jamaica game or the Honduras game (despite the results).

[Edwin]

I remember watching the Canada/Mexico 2000 Gold Cup game on TV (because there was nothing else on) and getting really excited after Hastings scored but back then, I did not follow the National Team at all.

Like Keano, I was also at Quest Field for the Canada/Brazil game and I'd have to say the De Guzman goal has been my highlight to date.

[SthMelbRed]

For me, it's driving through the night in March '98 to San Francisco to watch the WCQ against the USA at Stanford with a bunch of mates, singing 'Oh Canada' at the tops of our lungs, only to be humiliated ten minutes later when our boys were already down two goals on their way to a woeful Hex. Oh ****, wrong thread.

[CanadasBest]

I feel your pain. I was at the return game in Vancouver sitting next to 300 or so of Sam's Army in that embarassment of a match. Was by far my worst experience as a Canadian supporter.

My best moments live have been:

- Mobilio's first international goal and 3-1 win against Honduras in WCQ for USA '94. At the time we were sitting first in the group ahead of Mexico in the final round.

- The WCQ in Edmonton against Mexico in 2008. Both Gerba's and Radzinski's goals were awesome and the celbrations were great.

- The WCQ in Vancouver against Guatemala in 2004. The game itself was utterly dissapointing but in more than 20 years following the National Team it was the first time I felt like I was part of a pro-canada crowd. It was my first experience attending a live match in a Voyageurs section and it was an awesome experience.

[Toronto MB]

Best Live Moments:

BOSTON - GOLD CUP 2003:

We came down to breakfast at our hotel to find masses of Costa Rican supporters strewn throughout the entire building, we got the feeling early on that it was going to be a tough day. As we pulled up to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, the Ticos continued to dominate the landscape - except this time in the tens of thousands.

But as I met up with the 50 or so Voyageurs for my first 'vee's abroad' experience, things started to look a little more promising. Most of the onlooking Costa Ricans must have thought we were out of our minds as we beat our drums and sang our songs and walked into the stadium to set-up shop.

Turns out we weren't so crazy after all. Paul Stalteri scored the goal. Canada 1 - 0 Costa Rica. Beautiful.

SEATTLE - BRAZIL FRIENDLY 2008:

I was supposed to meet up with the 30 odd Vee's who had traveled down to the game, mostly from Vancouver, at a pub near the stadium on match-day. But silly me, I had forgotten that prohibition was still in effect in Washington state, and me being a few months shy of 21, couldn't even get into the bar.

Eventually the Vee's spilled out, rather drunkenly, I got my ticket, and we headed for the stadium doing our thing once again.

When Brazil potted the first goal only minutes in, I think we could all have been forgiven for bracing for the worst. But suddenly the German-giant Rob Friend rose above the Brazilian keeper and brought us back to life! Damn we played well. De Ro, Issey and JDG all could have scored to put us ahead in the first half.

When JDG banged the now famous goal in, it marked one of the high points in my Voyageurs career. IIRC I ripped my shirt off in some kind of frenzied celebration (YouTube footage seems to confirm this). Beautiful.

TORONTO - JAMAICA FRIENDLY 1999:

Even at the tender age of 11, I remember feeling pretty pissed off that my country was being aggressively cheered against on home-soil. My British dad, who likes to slam all-things-Canada when given half a chance - had mustered up one of his rare bursts of Canadian patriotism and was firmly behind our boys that day.

I can't remember much other than Jim Brennan bursting down the left wing and smashing one into the roof of the net for the Reds. I have foggy visions of me jumping up and down in celebration, with the largely Jamaican crowd surrounding me casting some ugly glares in my direction.

I didn't care. It was us against the world. The way it has always been for Canadian soccer.

Jim Brennan's goal proved to be the winner that day. 1-0 Canada. Beautiful.

[Lurker]

It's a distant memory now but I remember staying up all night waiting and then watching the 2nd leg of playoff with Australia towards the end of the 1994 qualification campaign. My friend and I went crazy when Lyndon Hooper tied the game up early in the 2nd half. In the end things didn't go our way, but having followed the whole campaign and staying up all night that goal was huge moment (in my mind).

[dyslexic nam]

Winning the 2000 Gold Cup, without a doubt. I wasn't following the Nats when we made the WC, so the GC was (and still is) the biggest triumph I have ever seen from the Nats.

[jpoma]

I was too young for the 1986 run, so...

1. 2000 Gold Cup win

2. World Cup qualifying run for 1994. Particularly that last game against Mexico in Toronto. I remember never feeling a game so important played in Toronto. It had a world cup feel to it for sure. Canada needed the win to qualify, and was up 1-0 early.

[Keano]

Like Keano, I was also at Quest Field for the Canada/Brazil game and I'd have to say the De Guzman goal has been my highlight to date.

Haha I wasn't there. I wish... we were watching some choppy feed on the interwebs if memory serves...

[gator]

Here are my 3 best live matches following Canada: 17/08/85 World Cup Qualifier at Varsity in Toronto vs Costa Rica, Canada fell behind in this crucial WCQ from a ball that deflected off Ian Bridge into the net! I couldn't believe how many Costa Ricans were in Canada, it was my first National team match, the Ticos were going crazy in the stands! Fortunately the much maligned Paul James equalized for Canada, to keep our qualifying chances alive, it was our turn to celebrate!

28/5/88 Matthews Cup vs Greece at Varsity! Canada had beaten Chile but had been soundly defeated (3-0) by Greece in the round robin! A very young Craig Forrest stood on his head a we forced a PK shoot out and Forrest continued his heroics, we won the Matthews Cup! My friends and I were so excited we initiated/joined a pitch invasion and joined the team in a victory lap! I stll have television footage of this!

20/08/08 Canada vs Jamaica at BMO in a WCQ! As we know it didn't turn out that well but just the fact that we had a huge pro Canada crowd in Toronto was a stirring moment for me right from when I entered the stadium! The meet up with the V's at the Rhino and the march were brilliant! Too bad we didn't win but it was a huge moment for me!

[Keegan]

Serioux's goal vs. Honduras in Montreal was an amazing moment! I was just 17 and flew down with my buddy (sat next to Seriouxs brother on the plane!) and we were looking for a result after a dissapointing draw. My dad told me if I went he would kick me out of the house... didn't care and I just remember jumping up on the railing when Serioux scored and shaking the hell out of the mesh behind the net for that first 45 I was in heaven

[Alberto7]

Great thread. My top three moments:

1-Canada playing France at World Cup 86. I watched the game (my first involving the National team) on the edge of my seat. I actually believed they were going to beat France. They didn't but it was one hell of a ride.

2-Hastings scoring the golden goal against mexico at Gold Cup 2000. While the final was exciting, this was incredible. We beat our toughest CONCACAF opponent and went on to win the damned tournament

3- Beating St Vincent 4-1 at Saputo stadium. We totally dominated that game and (for a brief moment) I thought we were going to make it all the way to South Africa. The energy at the stadium was amazing.

[grigorio]

Definitely the march to BMO before the Canada Jamaica game and the overall atmosphere at that match. Being in the first row for JDG's goal that opened the scoring and kicked off what seemed to be a promising campaign is my highlight.

[Slamo]

It's a distant memory now but I remember staying up all night waiting and then watching the 2nd leg of playoff with Australia towards the end of the 1994 qualification campaign. My friend and I went crazy when Lyndon Hooper tied the game up early in the 2nd half. In the end things didn't go our way, but having followed the whole campaign and staying up all night that goal was huge moment (in my mind).

Yeah I am with you on that one. The tying goal was painful and misplayed, but still a great memory.

The one that tops that for me is the first 65-70 minutes of the 86 WC game against France. I was at a tournament in Minneapolis and watching the game at the hotel with my teammates. The goal was heart breaking but after the heartbreak of the previous qualifier it was great to see Canada in the world cup and hold France tight. I remember thinking this was going to be a regular occurence from then on. Ouch!

[Scottie]

Definitely the 2008 WCQ against mexico in Edmonton. I brought 7 friends who had never seen a Canada match, and they were all impressed by the performance Canada put on. Of course, I had to break them the bad news that we had already been eliminated and that was our best game of the round. But Radzinski's domination of the mexicans, and the players coming over to our section after the game to thank us, made the day for me.

I look forward to the day when I replace this memory.

[ted]

Chanting TAS-ER! TAS-ER! in Commonwealth Stadium when the Hondurans beside us started getting a little aggressive towards the cops on the track below.

[matthew]

Top three moments from a far:

1. the build-up to the 86 World Cup. I just remember the buzz about the tournament and about Canada from the time we qualified until the tournament ended. That time got me hooked for sure.

2. Hastings goal. It was just so satisfying to beat Mexico. And to do it in such dramatic fashion . . . and after such a dismal spell. The 98 hex was a disaster and then there were almost no games for 18 mos. and then that goal and that run gave me so much optimism for the Holger era. Alas . . .

3. Berdusco! Berdusco! Berdusco! — the Aussie playoff was really painful for me because we played so well in Edmonton and only had a one-goal lead leaving and the return leg nearly killed me between the crack of dawn kickoff, the extra time, the penalties and the loss of a feed during extra time while Dick Howard tried to explain what was going on (and why Niall Thompson appeared to be out cold and Canada was playing with 10 men) when all we could see was Dick’s smiling face on screen.

But that was such a good Canada team and they’d come so close and there were some great high profile friendlies coming up to look forward to. Then Pesch and Bunbury got hurt and I was worried we might be killed, but Eddy Berdusco scoring to tie Brazil was one of the great shock/joy moments.

Top four in person:

1. DeRosario’s goal in Edinburgh to put Canada 1-0 over Scotland. Our own section full of Canadians, the goal silenced the crowd and had us in full voice. If only we’d held the lead for more than a minute. But even getting a taunting “you’re not singing anymore” right after the equalizer is a fond memory. The Tartan Army knew we were there anyway.

2. The marches in Toronto for Jamaica and in Montreal for Honduras. I think I take it for granted that I can travel halfway across the country, go to a bar six hours before a game and know (and like) the first person I see. Even if the result depresses me I always look back fondly on any trip to go see Canada.

3. Jeff Clarke scores to give Canada a 1-0 win over T&T in Toronto. One of my first games. Good Canadian supporters section, first game back after winning the Gold Cup, and seeing a game at Varsity was pretty cool too.

4. The second half of the loss to Congo at the 2007 U20 World Cup. This may seem ridiculous, but after spending almost a week in Edmonton it was pretty clear at this point we weren’t going to qualify. It was pouring rain. We had a midfielder in goal. It was just so hopeless and yet we were determined to sing for 90 minutes and as the game wore on random people started to join us. It’s tough to explain why this memory is a good one, but it is.

[Scottie]

4. The second half of the loss to Congo at the 2007 U20 World Cup. This may seem ridiculous, but after spending almost a week in Edmonton it was pretty clear at this point we weren’t going to qualify. It was pouring rain. We had a midfielder in goal. It was just so hopeless and yet we were determined to sing for 90 minutes and as the game wore on random people started to join us. It’s tough to explain why this memory is a good one, but it is.

I was at that game and had never heard of the voyageurs before. After seeing you guys sticking it out in the rain I found this site within the next week, and 2 months later attended my first MNT game in Toronto.