Canada defeats rivals US 2:0 to remain undefeated in Qatar 2022 Qualifiers

Cyle Larin (7’), Samuel Adekugbe (90’) scored for Canada. Hometown
​hero Milan Borjan earned the cleansheet for Canada. Larin’s goal was the 23rdof his career sending him to the top of Canada’s Men’s National Team ‘A’
​International scoring leaderboard.

Canada next face El Salvador on 2 February in San Salvador
​to close out the January window. The match will be carried LIVE across Canada
​on OneSoccer.ca, Sportsnet, and RDS at 21:00 ET | 18:00 PT.

“We’re living the dream, through the hard work and the
​effort, we’re living a big moment, this country feels like they’re behind us
​and we’re nearly there,” said John Herdman, Men’s National Team Head Coach. “It
​feels like we’re in a football country. Stepping off the bus, the energy was
​there from the fans and then to go into the game, it was next man up. That’s
​what this is all about, team spirit. We’ll never stop fighting and we’ve got a
​football nation behind us now.”

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ6GalznUeY

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=46765827%40N08&view_all=1&text=20220130

Cyle Larin opened the scoring with
​a cool finish after a great give-and-go play with Jonathan David (7’). The goal
​was Larin’s 23rdfor Canada and put him in sole first position atop
​the CanMNT scoring chart in “A” matches.

In the 28’, Steven Vitoria blocked
​a hard shot to deny the USMNT after a turnover in the Canadian box.

In the 33’, Samuel Adekugbe
​switched the field with a long cross to Larin but an American defender was able
​to get his head on it just ahead of the Canadian to prevent a scoring chance.

Just before halftime, Milan Borjan
​was called into action with a brilliant save to maintain the clean sheet,
​getting a strong glove up to push away a headed chance off of an in-swinging
​corner kick by Christian Pulisic (43’).

In the 54’, David was able to beat
​four US players and stay on his feet to be able to play in a pass to Larin, who
​sprinted into the box and tried to play a cross back to David, but the two
​couldn’t quite connect and the ball ended up going out the far side of the
​penalty area to safety.

Borjan made a solid but
​straightforward save in the 59’ on a shot taken from the edge of the Canadian
​penalty area.

In the 62’ David picked out Tajon
​Buchanan in space with an excellent cross-field pass. Buchanan played a square
​cross but couldn’t find the run of Larin.

Larin very nearly scored his second
​of the match after the initial shot from David was saved by the keeper. The
​rebound fell right to the feet of the on-rushing Larin, but USA goalkeeper Matt
​Turner was able to make a phenomenal second save to deny him (70’).

In the 76’, Borjan stood tall to
​cut out a dangerous-looking cross into the box.

The USMNT had an excellent
​opportunity to tie the score in the 87’. Paul Arriola found himself with tons
​of space in behind the Canada defence and went for the overhead bicycle kick,
​making good contact but the shot sailed wide.

In the 89’, Junior Hoilett made a
​great run down the sideline before cutting inside to get past a defender, and
​then played a pass to find Adekugbe all alone, but the Canadian defender’s shot
​went over the crossbar.

In the final minute of stoppage
​time, Canada was able to double the lead, securing the victory in the process.
​Kamal Miller’s long clearing effort was taken down brilliantly by Adekugbe with
​a great first touch around the halfway line. That touch took him past the last
​defender and clear through on goal and he fired home the shot to make it 2:0
​(90+5’).

Canada’s Starting XI featured Milan Borjan©, Alistair
​Johnston, Steven Vitoria, Kamal Miller, Samuel Adekugbe, Richie Laryea, Mark-Anthon
​Kaye, Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan Osorio, Cyle Larin, and Jonathan David. Head
​Coach John Herdman replaced Kaye with Liam Fraser (58’), Larin with Junior
​Hoilett (73’) and David with Ike Ugbo (84’).