Canada vs. Cuba: WTR Live!

CANADA vs. CUBA
October 12th, 2012, 5:45pm ET
BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario

TV: Sportsnet ONE (Live)
Referee: Javier Santos (Puerto Rico)
Conditions: Clear, 5°C, 30% POP, Wind NW 12km/hr

Riding along on a carousel, trying to catch up to you.
Riding along on a carousel, will I catch up to you?
Horses chasing, 'cause they're racing.
So they ain't so far...

- "On a Carousel", The Hollies

There's some hot, hot Hex action to be had for Canadian soccer, who's looking to make it to the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying for the first time in 15 years -- and all we need to do is to beat a mystery team at home, and then win in Honduras. Easy job, right?

Maybe I'm being a bit too optimistic -- Stephen Hart has urged his team to not look past Cuba, for which we currently have zero clue as to whom they'll field. They've just arrived in Toronto, but given how much defections have hit the country's sports teams, who knows who (or what) will show up at BMO Field tonight to try to snap a 37-year winless streak?

Either way, a win would be absolutely fantastic. A draw...not so much. A loss...well, let's not even get to that point, shall we? But winning won't be the cure-all either -- that's for Tuesday. A few goals would be nice too, especially since they'd make nice wedding presents for two of our friends. (Ah, to be married...a girl can dream, right?)

We know who the Canadians will be playing: Iain Hume and Mike Klukowski are in for Ashtone Morgan and Dwayne De Rosario, while Dejan Jakovic (much to the ire of our friends over at Black and Red United) is likely to pick up some playing time. Will Johnson has got a few things on his mind, but should be okay. Otherwise, there isn't much squad turnover from the Panama home-and-home last month. And oh, yeah -- they're ready for this.

For those of you lucky enough to be in Toronto, tickets are still available. If not, and you're stuck at work, not in front of a TV, or in Calgary (or anywhere else around the world) -- join me (John Leung) in the CoverItLive window below starting at 7:15pm ET for exciting award-eligible live text commentary.

Let's earn some hot, hot Hex action, y'all!

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