Niko Sigur (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Niko Sigur made his debut for Canada in a 0-0 draw against Mexico, playing 13 minutes and contributing with two passes and three fouls in a hard-fought match.
Hajduk midfielder Niko Sigur made his international debut for Canada last night in a 0-0 friendly draw against Mexico. The 21-year-old defensive midfielder entered the game in the 77th minute, playing 13 minutes during the intense final moments of the match.
Canada, coming off a win against the USA, faced a tough challenge against Mexico, who were more threatening with double the number of shots, but couldn't break the deadlock. For Croatian fans, the highlight of the match was Sigur’s first appearance in the Canadian national team shirt.
Sigur, who replaced Ali Ahmed from Vancouver, completed two passes and committed three fouls during his short stint on the field.
"The feeling is amazing. I haven’t played much in recent months, and to get minutes in a game like this, to debut for Canada against Mexico in such an atmosphere, is truly incredible," Sigur said after the game. "It’s a motivation to keep working harder and growing with this team. The game was intense, and I found myself in a few duels that I felt didn’t need to be called as fouls. It’s tough coming off the bench in such a high-paced match, but I felt really good."
Sigur, who has previously played nine matches for Croatia U21, switched to represent Canada and hopes to make more appearances in the future. Injuries have limited his playing time at Hajduk, where he’s only played 31 minutes this season. While it’s unlikely he will feature in Friday’s game against Dinamo in Maksimir, he’s optimistic about regaining his form and earning another call-up for Canada’s next international action in October.
"The atmosphere in the locker room was great. We wanted to win, but drawing against Mexico, practically on their home turf, and the win against the US are fantastic results," Sigur added. "It’s been a while since I played in Canada. I have many friends in Toronto, and I hope to play in that game and show what I can do."
In other international action, the USA drew 1-1 with New Zealand, extending their poor run of form to just one win in their last seven matches. Christian Pulisic scored for the US in the 69th minute, but Ben Waine equalized for New Zealand in the 89th minute.