Hutchinson’s penalty ends Canada’s goalless drought in 1-1 draw with Bulgaria

RITZING, Austria – Canada came back from a goal down to draw Bulgaria 1-1 in an international men’s soccer friendly Friday.

It wasn’t the long-awaited win that Canada was hoping for, but it was a credible result against a decent European side and an end to an embarrassing 14-month goalless run.

Atiba Hutchinson, Canada’s best player on the day, converted a penalty in the 26th minute after Bulgaria had opened the scoring with a nicely-worked goal by Andrey Galabinov in the 18th minute.

The Canadian team is still without a win in seven matches under Spanish coach Benito Floro, but a positive performance, particularly during spells of the first half, will give the squad some encouragement as it now turns its focus to another friendly in Austria on Tuesday against Moldova.

Canada opted to field a relatively senior side, but Floro did hand a first international cap to young University of Connecticuit striker Cyle Larin.

Canada carved out the first chances of the game with wide crosses, but target man Tosaint Ricketts was unsuccessful in converting his early opportunities.

Hutchinson also sent Randy Edwini-Bonsu through for a quality early opportunity from inside the area but Bulgarian goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov came up with a fine reflex to deny the Edmonton native.

As has been the case all too frequently for Canada during its miserable recent spell, the opposition countered the early pressure by creating the first goal of the game.

Galabinov was played through into the area in the 18th minute and fired a right-footed shot that Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.

Canada was given a route back into the game courtesy of some reckless defending by Bulgaria.

One of the Bulgarian defenders swung wildly at a loose ball in the area — clattering Ricketts in the face in the process — and Austrian referee Harald Lechner awarded a penalty without hesitation.

Hutchinson stepped up to and dispatched a cool penalty to the bottom right corner, with Stoyanov diving the wrong way, in the 26th minute.

The goal, Hutchinson’s fifth of his career, was Canada’s first in international play for 14 months dating back to Marcus Haber’s marker against Japan in March of 2013.

The breakthrough seemed to buoy Canadian spirits as both Ricketts and Simeon Jackson followed up with shots on the goal, but the first half drew to a close with the team level at 1-1.

Following the break, Canada failed to string together any passing with the same verve it did in the first half and after an initial period of possession they were put under heavy pressure by Bulgaria.

Goalscorer Galabinov had the best chance for the Bulgarians, but Borjan did well to rush off his line and deny the attacker a dangerous look at goal.

The Bulgarians also came close in the final 20 minutes through a number of goalmouth scrambles, but Borjan again managed to withstand the pressure to help Canada to its first result in international play since a 0-0 draw with Mauritania in September 2013.