SkyDome Cup
Encyclopedia
The SkyDome Cup was a football (soccer)
tournament played in late January 1995 in the SkyDome stadium (now Rogers Centre
) between hosts Canada
, then European champions Denmark
, and Portugal
. As the tournament was played in a crucial part of the European leagues the Europe
an sides presented alternate sides (Denmark consisting of a Danish League XI), which resulted in the only (or first) international caps for some of players involved.
Played January 24, the first match put hosts Canada against Denmark, and resulted in a one-nil win for the European champions with a goal by Højer Nielsen
. Canada would play their second game two days later against Portugal, which resulted in a one goal draw, with goals by António Folha
and Alex Bunbury
.
With Canada out of the race with 1 point in their two matches, the winner would be known in the final game, played January 29 between Denmark (who only needed a draw) and Portugal. Paulo Alves
scored late in the game, giving Portugal their only victory at senior level.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
tournament played in late January 1995 in the SkyDome stadium (now Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
) between hosts Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
, then European champions Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
, and Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
. As the tournament was played in a crucial part of the European leagues the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an sides presented alternate sides (Denmark consisting of a Danish League XI), which resulted in the only (or first) international caps for some of players involved.
Played January 24, the first match put hosts Canada against Denmark, and resulted in a one-nil win for the European champions with a goal by Højer Nielsen
Lars Højer
Lars Højer Nielsen is a former Danish professional football midfielder. He played 166 matches for F.C. Copenhagen in the Danish Superliga from 1992 to 1999.Lars Højer was known as a free kick specialist....
. Canada would play their second game two days later against Portugal, which resulted in a one goal draw, with goals by António Folha
António Folha
António José dos Santos Folha is a retired Portuguese footballer who played mostly as a winger.-Club career:...
and Alex Bunbury
Alex Bunbury
Alexander "Alex" Bunbury is a former Canadian professional footballer, who played as a striker.-Club career:Bunbury started playing professionally with the Hamilton Steelers in Canada, also having one-year spells in the Canadian Soccer League with the Toronto Blizzard and Montreal Supra.In 1993,...
.
With Canada out of the race with 1 point in their two matches, the winner would be known in the final game, played January 29 between Denmark (who only needed a draw) and Portugal. Paulo Alves
Paulo Alves
Paulo Lourenço Martins Alves is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a centre forward, and a current coach.-Football career:Born in Vila Real, Alves moved from local club to F.C...
scored late in the game, giving Portugal their only victory at senior level.
Final standings
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| 1 |