Dramatic Equalizer Leads to Penalty Agony
The Canadian Under-17 men's national soccer team saw their FIFA U-17 World Cup journey come to a crushing conclusion on Friday, November 14, 2025, following a painful defeat in a penalty shootout against Ireland. The thrilling round-of-32 match, held at the Aspire Zone complex in Doha, Qatar, ended in the most dramatic fashion after regular time finished with the teams level.
Kozlovskiy's Crucial Goal
The match featured a pivotal moment when Canadian defender Sergei Kozlovskiy scored a game-tying goal, sending his team and supporters into a frenzy. The celebration, captured in a team handout photo, showed Kozlovskiy sharing the moment with teammates Van Parker and Johnny Selemani. This crucial intervention forced the match to be decided from the penalty spot, where Canada's tournament hopes were ultimately dashed.
A Bitter End to the Campaign
While the final result was a difficult pill to swallow, the team's performance in the tournament showcased the developing talent within Canada soccer. The exit marks the end of their campaign in the prestigious global youth tournament, a valuable experience for the nation's emerging football stars. The focus now shifts to the future, as these young players return home with invaluable international experience.
