The Bays United product dressed for sa国际传媒 in Tuesday night鈥檚 1-0 international friendly loss to Costa Rica before 8,110 fans at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton but failed to earn his third career cap as Milan Borjan got the start and played the full 90 minutes.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always disappointed when you don鈥檛 play,鈥� said Thomas, by phone from Edmonton.
鈥淏ut I will use that as motivation going forward. It [Canadian crease position] is still wide-open for the CONCACAF Gold Cup [in July at various U.S. venues].鈥�
There was a better turn of events, however, after the game when interim Canadian coach Colin Miller informed Thomas 鈥� who plays for Vancouver Whitecaps Under-23 of the USL Premier Development League 鈥� that the lanky, six-foot-three 23-year-old Islander was being loaned to Edmonton FC of the NASL for this coming weekend.
Miller, who was the first head coach of the Victoria Highlanders in the PDL, is the current head coach of Edmonton FC.
That鈥檚 good news for the Highlanders, who are set to face Whitecaps U-23 in a PDL fixture Friday night at Royal Athletic Park.
Thomas, under contract to the MLS Whitecaps, admitted to some disappointment at not being able to play in his hometown Friday in front of friends and family, but is more than happy to get the opportunity with Edmonton FC.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always looking to that next level,鈥� he said.
Meanwhile, defender Adam Straith of Victoria failed to win his 12th cap as he was on the 18-player Canadian roster but not put into Tuesday鈥檚 game.
A penalty-kick goal in the first half by Jairo Arrieta, who plays for the Columbus Crew of the MLS, was all the scoring Costa Rico would need. Borjan, who plays for Turkish club Sivasspor, guessed right by diving to his right but could not reach the ball.
sa国际传媒 now heads into the CONCACAF Gold Cup without a win in five games this year. The best result was a scoreless draw against the U.S. in January at Houston when Thomas recorded the clean sheet for sa国际传媒.
The initial 35-player Canadian roster for the Gold Cup will be announced Friday. A team of 23 will be sent into Gold Cup play.
World No. 48 Costa Rica is preparing for a crucial CONCACAF final-round 2014 World Cup qualifying game June 7 against Honduras.
The Costa Ricans, known as the Ticos, have been to the World Cup three times since 1990, while No. 80 sa国际传媒 hasn鈥檛 been since 1986 and has already been eliminated for Brazil 2014.
sa国际传媒 had some chances Tuesday
鈥淚f we had hit the target on the occasions that we had free headers, it could have been 4-1 tonight,鈥� said Miller.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 anything to be negative about other than the result.鈥�
sa国际传媒 nearly responded two minutes after conceding the penalty. Defender Nik Ledgerwood started a scoring chance as he swung in a low cross from the right side. Midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran was first to the ball but his shot from just inside the 18-yard box was too high.
鈥� With files from Canadian Press
