The other match in the Copa America on Saturday night comes from Orlando where everything is on the line in a huge Group A clash as Canada look to make it through to the knockout stages when they go up against Chile.
Canada have put themselves in a great position to qualify for the last eight as they only need a draw to progress. Chile are not out of it though. If they win this it will be them who qualifies behind Argentina unless Peru get the win in the other game.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the Premier Sports 2 channel in the UK with the coverage getting going at 12.50am ahead of the 1am kick off.
Canada
We didn’t really know what we was going to get from Canada in this tournament with Jesse Marsch having had such little time to work with them since he was appointed as the head coach but there has been a lot to like about what we have seen. There are things that you can pick holes in for sure but that is to be expected so early in the reign of the American but in what was a tough group for Canada, to have their destiny in their hands going into the final group game is a good achievement.
They rode their luck a little bit against Argentina in their opening game but unlike some sides they didn’t sit back and wait to be beaten which was encouraging. They had their own chances but in the end went down to that extra quality that the world champions possess. They relied on their keeper once or twice in the second game against Peru but once they had their opponents down to 10 men they were ruthless enough to take advantage and now need just a point to most likely go through here.
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Chile
I think it is fair to say that we haven’t seen much from Chile in this tournament just yet. They are in a bit of a transition phase in many ways, although they have gone back to a lot of their old guard for this competition. Defensively it is hard to pick too many faults. They have only conceded one goal in the event to date which is a positive but we are still waiting for them to make the net bulge and that is something that will have to happen if they are going to stay alive.
They have only had 13 attempts at goal in their two matches so they need to find some cohesion and quality at the top end of the pitch else their stay in the Copa America is going to be short lived. Canada are their weakest opponent in terms of experience at this level and squad depth but it won’t matter if the Chileans can’t put the ball in the back of the net. They might be forced into a more attacking approach given their need to win here.
Betting
I’m not a person who backs a team to win because they have to but I look at the two games that Canada have played so far and but for Maxime Crepeau between the sticks they would have been in real trouble in both of them. I then look at Chile and although they are struggling in front of goal, there is no doubting the quality that they have in attacking areas and if ever it is going to click, surely it will be here against a Canada defence that is obviously a work in progress so soon into the Marsch tenure.
One area where things are going right for Chile is defensively and while they might have to ride a hairy moment or two, especially if they go in front in this match and naturally invite Canada onto them, I do think they have enough to snuff out the Canadian threat, which in terms of the strikers at least are snatching at chances which isn’t ideal. I’m very surprised that we can get an acceptable price on Chile on the draw no bet Asian line here. I’m not ruling the draw out purely because they haven’t excelled in front of goal but if it clicks here I expect the South Americans to have too much for the Canucks here.
Tips
Back Chile (0AH) to beat Canada for a 3/10 stake at 1.86 with Bet365
