Alphonso Davies and Jessie Fleming have been named Canada Soccer’s Players of the Month for October 2021. Davies of Edmonton, Alberta was an offensive dynamo for Canada in the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in the month of October while also starring for FC Bayern München in Germany. Fleming from London, Ontario, meanwhile, was a standout for Canada in the Women’s National Team Celebration Tour and also helped Chelsea FC go undefeated in the month across the FA Women’s Super League, UEFA Women’s Champions League, and the FA Cup.
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\u200bDavies scored a goal and two assists in three matches as undefeated Canada improved to 10 points across six matches in the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He got an assist on Jonathan Osorio’s equalizer against Mexico at Estadio Azteca, scored a memorable game winner against Panama in Toronto at BMO Field, and got his record-breaking assist on the Jonathan David 4:1 goal. He also delivered the corner kick for Canada’s 1:1 equalizer in the home match at Toronto, an own goal by the Panama defender. In Germany, Davies featured in three league matches and got one assist as FC Bayern maintained first place in the Bundesliga.
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\u200bHis goal was one of the finest ever scored at BMO Field in Toronto. After Mark-Anthony Kaye forced the turnover and David played a long ball up the field that should have been out of reach, Davies sped down the pitch and stole the ball off the line from Harold Cummings, then moved into the box around Fidel Escobar and fired a low shot that beat Escobar and the frozen goalkeeper Luis Mejía.
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\u200bFleming scored the first goal of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team’s Celebration Tour in the nation’s capital on Saturday 23 October, a Canada 5:1 victory over New Zealand in Ottawa. Fleming was also part of the build up on the 4-1 goal and earned Player of the Match honours in the Saturday win; she was then part of the build up on Canada’s lone goal in a 1:0 Tuesday victory against New Zealand on Tuesday 26 October.
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\u200bWith her club Chelsea FC, Fleming featured in five matches across three competitions and got an assist in the 2:0 league win over Leicester City FC (Chelsea FC remain in second place in the league standings) and another assist in the 3:0 FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City FC.
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\u200bAcross Canada Soccer’s first two matches on the Women’s National Team Celebration Tour, Canada’s goals were scored by Fleming, Christine Sinclair, Nichelle Prince, and Adriana Leon (three). After Fleming earned Player of the Match honours on Saturday, goalscorer Leon earned Player of the Match honours in the Tuesday win. The Tuesday win also helped the Women’s National Team extend their unbeaten streak to an all-time record 12 games since February (six wins and six draws as well as an Olympic Games Gold Medal).
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\u200bIn club football, Christine Sinclair led Portland Thorns FC to their second NWSL Shield by finishing first in the league standings. Sinclair and Thorns FC are one of six teams that reached the November playoffs along with second-place OL Reign who also earned a first-round bye. The opening round will feature third-place Washington Spirit against sixth-place North Carolina Courage and fourth-place Chicago Red Stars against fifth-place NJ/NY Gotham FC.
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\u200bLooking ahead to the month of November, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team will resume the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifies with a pair of home matches in Edmonton, Alberta on Friday 12 November and Tuesday 16 November at Commonwealth Stadium. Tickets to both matches, starting at just $20, are available via Ticketmaster.ca (https://www.ticketmaster.ca/canadian-soccer-association-tickets/artist/1486690). Both matches will be broadcast live on OneSoccer (including Telus channel 980 and onesoccer.ca), Sportsnet and RDS while extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital channels will be found on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube featuring the hashtag #CANMNT.
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\u200bPLAYERS of the MONTH:
\u200bOctober 2021 – Alphonso Davies and Jessie Fleming
\u200bSeptember 2021 – Alistair Johnston and Nichelle Prince
\u200bAugust 2021 – Tajon Buchanan and Stephanie Labbé
\u200bJuly 2021 – Tajon Buchanan and Vanessa Gilles
\u200bJune 2021 – Alphonso Davies and Ashley Lawrence
\u200bMay 2021 – Jonathan David and Christine Sinclair
\u200bApril 2021 – Jonathan David and Evelyn Viens
\u200bMarch 2021 – Jessie Fleming and Cyle Larin
\u200bFebruary 2021 – Alphonso Davies and Shelina Zadorsky
\u200bJanuary 2021 – Cyle Larin and Ashley Lawrence