ORLANDO, Fla. -- Canada sent out a largely inexperienced side in their 2-1 loss to Iceland in an international friendly Friday at the University of Central Florida.
In the end though, it was 36-year-old Dwayne De Rosario who had the biggest impact.
De Rosario entered the match at the half and scored Canada’s only goal on a header in the 70th minute. The MLS veteran played in 2014 for Toronto FC, but he’s currently not attached to a team and offered few hints about where he might be headed.
“Well, there are a couple things in motion,” Rosario said after the match. “But right now, that’s what you have agents for. For me, I just continue enjoying and loving playing. I’m going to go back with Toronto and sort that out, but right now the focus is going back and getting everything set up with the national team. We have a very important year this year.”
Canada is headed into 2018 World Cup qualifying in June, the Gold Cup just after that and will hope to begin on a good note after failing to make the Hexagonal round in 2014 World Cup qualifying. De Rosario will look to provide a veteran presence for the team, though head coach Benito Floro hinted in his postgame comments that his situation would certainly be improved if he could find a club to begin training with.
Six players on Canada’s roster for Friday’s friendly are currently unattached.
De Rosario, a former MLS MVP, was up and down in 2014, managing only one goal in 19 appearances for an underachieving Toronto side. If his performance Friday was any indication though, the veteran still has what it takes to contribute at the highest levels.
When pressed on whether his future lies in MLS for 2015, Rosario sounded optimistic but non-committal.
“Hopefully that will come true,” he said. “If not, it’s been a great career in MLS. I’m grateful for everything that MLS has provided me. They’ve done a fantastic job at creating opportunities for the young kids to fulfill their dreams and stay in North America.”
