Canada Kicks Ass - Rising Canadian soccer star bags winner

RISING Canadian international soccer star Iain Hume scored the winner when lowly Tranmere Rovers defeated English Premiership stars Bolton in the Football Association Cup's latest knockout round.

RISING Canadian international soccer star Iain Hume made the headlines in the UK media by blasting the winning goal for Division Two side Tranmere Rovers against Premiership team Bolton in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Iain, just 20, powered in a scorching 25-yard shot with his left foot in the first-minute of extra time to clinch a 2-1 win over Bolton last night (January 13).

The fact that 40 league places separate the two clubs, both located in north-western England, made the victory at Bolton's Reebok Soccer Stadium all that much sweeter.

Young Iain's rise to fame is something of a soccer fairy tale. For he became the youngest ever player - at 16 - to appear in a Tranmere Rovers shirt when he made his debut against Swindon Town in April 2000.

Iain emigrated with his Scottish-born parents to Ontario shortly after his first birthday and his love for soccer manifested itself at an early age when he began playing schoolboy and junior soccer in Canada, often in age groups well above his own, such was his ability.

He became a member of the premier soccer academy in Canada and was invited to join a touring Canadian Select side which led to him being spotted by Tranmere, signing first as a schoolboy and then at 17 turning professional.

Described by Tranmere manager Brian Little as "a fast and energetic striker with masses of potential", Iain got his first full Canadian cap last year, making his debut in the 4-2 win over Libya.

He's also made a name for himself at Tranmere where he scored six goals last season to Clinch the title Young Player of the Season for 2002/03.

And a recent appearance for Canada in the Under-20 World Championship tournament saw him find the net three times.

Last night's brilliant strike, which won rave reviews from commentators on Britain's premier sports radio channel BBC Radio 5 Live - plus in newspapers and other media - propels Tranmere through to the next stage of the prestigious F.A. Cup, this time against Luton - who are also a Division Two side.

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