Toronto FC was well represented at the 2017 CONCACAF u-20 Championship in Costa Rica, which acts as a qualifying process for the u-20 World Cup. The club had five players representing Canada: Liam Fraser, Luca Uccello, Dante Campbell, Shaan Hundal, and Aiden Daniels.
Canada opened the tournament with an important game against rival Honduras. Both Liam Fraser and Luca Uccello drew into Rob Gale’s starting XI for the clash. Fraser and Uccello both played the full 90 minutes in the closely contested game. Shaan Hundal came on as a substitute early in the second half. However, Honduras found the breakthrough in the 77th minute to steal the important three points.
"Our football in the first half was some of the best that we had ‎played in awhile," said Fraser to Canada Soccer. "I think we as a team recognise that and that we can implement that into the next match. I think staying committed to our game plan and staying committed as a group, more than anything will be most important to our match against Mexico."
Canada headed into the match against Mexico as significant underdogs. Fraser and Uccello once again drew into the starting XI and academy product Dante Campbell made his first start of the tournament. Campbell made way for Aiden Daniels early in the second half and Hundal made his second consecutive appearance coming in as a substitute in the 76th. Canada would ultimately fall to the defending champions 5-0. The loss eliminated Canada from qualification for the 2017 u-20 World Cup in South Korea.
Canada closed out their tournament against Antigua and Barbuda. Liam Fraser and Shaan Hundal both started the match, with Fraser captaining the voyageurs. Canada opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Hundal’s headed effort hit the crossbar and the rebound fell to Millwall’s Kris Twardek who slotted home Canada’s first goal of the tournament. Uccello came on as a late substitute before Hundal would double Canada’s lead. The Toronto FC II standout broke into the box on a great ball from Heerenveen’s Tristan Borges before calmly sending home a first touch shot past the A&B keeper.
GOAL Canada, Shaan HUNDAL No. 12 | #AntiguaBarbuda@CanadaSoccerEN#CU20CRCpic.twitter.com/j4aJEfpJI2
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) February 23, 2017
This will be the end of the road for Uccello, Daniels, and Fraser with the u-20 Excel program. Hundal and Campbell could both be eligible for the next World Cup cycle in two years time. Uccello left a touching message on his Instagram page commenting on his time with the program.
