HAMILTON, Bermuda – Canadian defender Adam Straith is currently without a club, and if any prospective clubs are looking for players with versatility, he can now put ‘international goalkeeper’ on his resume.
Straith put his hand up and volunteered to go in goal after Sean Melvin went down injured conceding Bermuda’s second goal in Canada’s 4-2 friendly win on Sunday (WATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE). He didn’t have too much to do, but did make an awkward punch save late in the game that he likely won’t want to remember any time soon.
“I had never even worn 'keeper gloves. That was the first time,” said Straith. “I think you could probably see that with my attempt at a punch.”
Callum Irving had started the game for Canada, but was taken out at the half to give Melvin some action. Former Vancouver Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Marco Carducci had been in camp, but was part of the roster trim before Canada travelled from Florida to Bermuda.
Melvin was injured in a collision with Lejaun Simmons, who was credited with Bermuda’s goal. As Melvin limped off the field, some fierce deliberations took place, with Straith ultimately swapping Canada's white jersey for a purple goalkeeper’s jersey.
Suddenly, without a second of goalkeeper experience, Straith was in goal with the game hanging in the balance.
“To be fair, Bermuda said we could put our goalkeeper [Irving] back in, but we said it was a FIFA match and we can’t do that,” said Canada's interim head coach Michael Findlay. “We always target a couple of guys in case of emergencies, it’s very rare, and ultimately [Straith] put his hand up and said he was the most comfortable.”
Fortunately for Canada, his outfield teammates stepped up. The bulk of the play in the final 35 minutes was mostly in the opponents’ end, with Toronto FC’s Jay Chapman and the Montreal Impact’s Anthony Jackson-Hamel scoring to give Canada a 4-2 victory.
Technical difficulties on the ground in Bermuda prevented a web stream of the match from being broadcast on the Canadian federation's website. But what was essentially a preseason friendly became yet another wacky Canadian soccer adventure that really had to be seen to be believed.
