Wales vs Canada; International Match
Wales vs Canada. International Match.
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Wales 0-1 Canada: Derek Cornelius' winner sees Dragons lose first home game under Craig Bellamy
Report from the friendly match between Wales and Canada at the Swansea.com Stadium; Derek Cornelius' goal after 41 minutes inflicts defeat on the Dragons for just second time under Craig Bellamy
Wednesday 10 September 2025 11:08, UK
Craig Bellamy criticised Jesse Marsch for celebrating victory before the final whistle of their Swansea friendly and wants a rematch at the World Cup next year.
Derek Cornelius' ferocious 25-yard free-kick four minutes from half-time secured a 1-0 Canada win and condemned Bellamy to only the second defeat of his 12-game reign, and first at home.
But boss Bellamy was unhappy with the way former Leeds boss Marsch behaved in stoppage time with Wales still trying to salvage a draw against the 2026 World Cup co-hosts.
"I still wanted to win, trust me," Bellamy said after selecting a side showing eight changes from the 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory in Kazakhstan on Thursday. "Honestly, I'm actually not happy because I really hate losing more than I like winning.
"I see him (Marsch) celebrating at the end. I'm thinking, 'I hope I see you at the World Cup. I hope I see you again'.
"But I have to also be gracious. Jesse was shaking his coaches' hands before the final whistle. I have to get used to that."
In reality, it was anything but a friendly as English referee Robert Jones brandished eight yellow cards, with both sides guilty of overstepping the mark at times.
Bellamy had entered the contest with a winning record of 54.5 per cent - the best percentage of any permanent Welsh manager - from his 11 games in charge.
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The only loss had come in a World Cup tie in Belgium, but Wales could count themselves fortunate not to suffer a heavier defeat as Canada hit the woodwork twice and spurned several other scoring opportunities.
This was Wales' first visit to Swansea since a Covid contest in 2020, and the first in front of a crowd for 12 years, and Bellamy made wholesale changes after their marathon 7,000-mile round trip to Kazakhstan on Thursday.
Kieffer Moore's winner had kept alive Welsh hopes of finishing top of their World Cup qualifying group, but the Wrexham striker was among eight players stood down as skipper Ben Davies, Neco Williams and Harry Wilson remained.
Cardiff right-back Ronan Kpakio made his debut and Leeds midfielder Charlie Crew his first start, two teenagers aged 18 and 19 respectively.
Bellamy chose Canada - three spots above 31st-placed Wales in the FIFA rankings - as friendly opposition given his admiration for the 2026 World Cup co-hosts and the "tough test" he wanted. He certainly got his wish.
It was the fourth meeting between the two nations with Wales leading 2-1, and Canucks manager Jesse Marsch's first game on British soil since his departure from Leeds in February 2023.
Juventus striker Jonathan David was the star name in the Canada line-up.
Kpakio was spared an inauspicious beginning as Richie Laryea tumbled under his third-minute challenge.
Jones seemed to feel that Laryea caught his studs in the turf, but Kpakio breathed a huge sigh of relief as play was waved on.
David Brooks failed to connect with Mark Harris' cross in front of goal and Daniel James saw his effort pushed out by goalkeeper Dayne St Clair.
But Canada menaced with every attack, Ismael Kone striking the inside of a post from David's cute backheel and Tajon Buchanan and Laryea betrayed by a lack of composure.
An open start gave way to a fractious affair with Jones brandishing six yellow cards inside 36 minutes, including one for an exasperated Marsch.
Canada continued to knock on the door as Luc De Fougerolles flicked a volley onto the crossbar, and it finally opened after 41 minutes through Cornelius' fabulous free-kick.
It was a more even contest after the break as De Fougerolles headed Harris' overhead kick off the goal-line and Crew directed a Wilson corner straight at St Clair.
Wales survived when Tani Oluwaseyi pounced on Ben Cabango's mistake and blazed over.
Late bookings for substitutes Rhys Norrington-Davies and Jayden Nelson took the caution count to eight, as Harris wasted a late opportunity to give Wales a share of the spoils.
Bellamy said: "I don't do excuses. I don't talk about process. I'm in the here and now, I want to win.
"But we had debuts, it was Charlie Crew's first start, and we had one or two fringe players.
"I needed to see the squad and what they picked up with us. Can they play our way? I very impressed with that.
"But that speed of securing balls and seeing pressure, coming up with the ball, some of our boys have never been exposed to that."