Canada advance to 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Quarterfinals

Canada
​Soccer’s Men’s National Team fell 0:1 to United States in their final Group B
​matchup at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup in Kansas City, Kansas. Shaq Moore’s 1’
​goal secured first place in Group B for the USA with Canada advancing as the
​second-place finisher to a Quarterfinal matchup against the winner of Group C which
​will be Jamaica or Costa Rica pending their final group stage match on Tuesday
​20 July.

Both Canada
​and USA had already qualified to the Concacaf Gold Cup Quarterfinals after
​back-to-back wins against Martinique and Haiti to open the group phase. Both
​nations will play their Quarterfinal match on Sunday 25 July in Arlington, TX..
​All of Canada’s matches at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup are broadcast live on
​OneSoccer and fans will find extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital
​channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube featuring the hashtag
​#CANMNT.

“I think
​there’s pride in the effort from the guys as they showed some good
​adaptability, but we’re disappointed because there was a big chance to beat the
​US in their home and go top of Group B,” said John Herdman, Men’s National Team
​Head Coach. “We have seven days until the quarters, so we’ll recoup and
​get these boys ready for whatever opponent comes next.”

The first
​minute goal sealed the victory for the USA despite a tremendous effort
​throughout the remainder of the match from Canada.

With a number
​of players rested and Stephen Eustaquio unavailable due to yellow card
​accumulation, Canada were still able to create problems for US goalkeeper Matt
​Turner forcing a number of saves throughout spells of attack in both the first
​and second half.

In addition, a
​first-half substitution of Ayo Akinola who left the match with a right leg
​injury, and second half injury replacement for Cyle Larin created challenges
​for Canada.

The US scored
​almost from kickoff going long off the start. Canada had a few chances to
​clear, but the ball stayed in the air under pressure until the US were able to
​get a bit of space, play wide to GK Max Crepeau’s right, and then back across
​the goal to a streaking Moore who’d left his mark.

Canada nearly
​got it right back. After a foul in the 3’, Junior Hoilett knocked a ball far
​post on to the head of Sam Piette, whose effort was saved by Turner.

Five minutes
​later, a great release pass from Alistair Johnston to Richie Laryea led to a
​quick combination with Hoilett that sprung Laryea into space. Laryea took the
​ball into the USA box and was taken down by Walker Zimmerman for a penalty
​shout that never came.

Canada had a
​chance in the 37’ as Osorio and Larin combined to create space for Tajon
​Buchanan in the box. Buchanan laid off for first-half substitute Osorio who
​took a step, then a touch and fired into traffic.

Buchanan
​created a couple of first-half injury time chances to close out the half, the
​best coming to Johnston at the back post after a Larin dummy pass.

Canada started
​the second half on the front foot as well. A Larin run ended as he was
​clattered into atop the US box with the ball falling into the path of Buchanan
​who forced a stop point blank from Turner.

Laryea was
​taken down in the penalty area in the 50’ for a second time with no call from
​the referee.

After a pair
​of second-half substitutions, Johnston and Buchanan combined which led to a
​curling cross by Buchanan in the 76’ that was just a touch too high for
​Cavallini and just out of reach of a streaking Johnston at the back post.

Buchanan’s
​curling effort just a few minutes later (79’) was impossibly close to finding
​the inside of the back post behind Turner.

Canada had one
​last chance for goal in second-half injury time with Lucas Cavallini having a
​go from just outside the box in the 90’ +2. Turner again was able to take the
​shot.

“We played a
​good game,” said Richie Laryea. “I thought we got into dangerous places and we
​should have capitalized on some of our opportunities, but, after going down so
​early I think we fought very well and we created a lot of opportunities for
​ourselves.”

Canada’s
​starting XI featured Maxime Crépeau in goal, Alistair Johnston at right back,
​Steven Vitória at centre back, Kamal Miller at left back, and Richie Laryea,
​Tajon Buchanan, Liam Fraser, Samuel Piette, Cyle Larin, Ayo Akinola and Junior
​Hoilett from the midfield up through to the attack. Herdman replaced
​Akinola with Jonathan Osorio (24’), Larin with Lucas Cavallini (53’), and
​Piette and Hoilett with Mark-Anthony Kaye and Tyler Pasher (73’).

CANADA SOCCER’S
​MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM:

Canada
​Soccer’s Men’s National Team are two-time Concacaf champions, previously
​winning the 1985 Concacaf Championship and 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup. This year
​marks Canada’s 15th participation at the Concacaf Gold Cup since 1991. Along
​with their first-place finish in 2000, Canada reached the Semifinals in 2002
​and 2007. Across the past five years from 2017 to 2021, Canada are one of only
​four nations that have finished top-six across all three Concacaf major
​tournaments: fifth place in Concacaf Nations League A and sixth place at both
​the 2017 and 2019 Concacaf Gold Cups.