Estonia defeats Canada 2-0

TALLINN - Estonia defeated Canada 2-0 in a men's soccer friendly on a snow-covered pitch at Lillekula Stadium on Wednesday.

Estonia got on the board in the 60th minute on a Paul Stalteri own goal. The veteran defender was hit in the chest with a cross and the ball went in over the head of goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld.

Estonia sealed the victory with a goal in the 88th minute.

"The first goal comes on a counterattack and the second goal comes when we're pushing to get the equalizer," said Canada head coach Dale Mitchell. "I think we were the team that carried the play for good parts of the match.

"But away from home, if you play against players who have some pace and some ability up front which almost all teams in Europe have, when you give it away they can make you pay for it. And that was really the difference in the game."

Work crews did their best to clear the field of snow before the game and at halftime but players still had to deal with cold, slippery conditions.

"Our guys got on with it with a good attitude," Mitchell said. "At times maybe we overplayed a little bit too much and it didn't really suit the style of the team that we have right now.

"But it still ends up being a worthwhile exercise to be over here, to be with the players for three days, and make the most of a competitive international."

Estonia defeated Canada 2-1 in a friendly at their only previous meeting in 2003.

Canada is preparing for its first game in the CONCACAF World Cup qualification, which is scheduled for June 15 at Saint Vincent & the Grenadines.