The U.S. military soccer team lost Sunday to Canada, 2-1, and was eliminated from contention for a spot in the Conseil International du Sports Militaire’s (CISM) 2007 World Military Games, USAFE sports director Steve Lowe reported from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Lowe, serving as an assistant coach for the team that includes airmen Quincey Collins of Naples and Nicholas Kalashian of Spangdahlem, reported that the U.S. needed a tie or victory against Canada to move on to the World Military Games, scheduled for Oct. 14-21 in Hyderabad, India.

The U.S. took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute on a goal by Paul Gagliardi of McChord AFB, Wash. Gagliardi banged home a rebound of a shot taken by the Army’s Joshua Blodgett of Fort Carson, Colo.

Canada, however, tied the game on a penalty kick in the 65th minute and won with an injury-time strike in the 92nd minute, according to Lowe.

The deciding score came with the U.S. a man down. James Pastore of McGuire AFB, N.J., whom Lowe called a “star defender,” was ejected for drawing his second yellow card of the game with 10 minutes left in regulation.

The victory was the first for a team other than Brazil in this three-nation round-robin, which began last Monday, Lowe reported. Brazil posted 10-1 and 4-0 victories over Canada and 5-2 and 7-0 triumphs over the U.S. earlier in the week. The U.S. and Canada tied 1-1 on Wednesday.

Brazil and Canada advanced to the CISM Games.

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