Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team sit in first place on six points in Group B at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup after defeating Haiti 4:1. Cyle Larin (2), Stephen Eustáquio, and Junior Hoilett scored for Canada. Canada are tied with the USA on six points atop Group B with 2-0 records and a +6 goal differential but hold the first place tie breaker heading into the their final Group Stage match against the USA and will advance as the Group B winner with a win or a draw in the match on goals scored.
With his two goals, Cyle Larin became the sole leader for Men’s National Team goals in a single calendar year, breaking a tie with both Jonathan David and Lucas Cavallini who each scored 8 in 2019. Larin has also set a record by scoring in four straight games with10 goals so far in 2021. In addition, Head Coach John Herdman notched his 20thvictory at the helm of the Men’s National Team, moving him into a tie for second place all-time with Stephen Hart in career victories and one behind leader Bob Lenarduzzi who has 21. Ayo Akinola and Tyler Pasher each made their Canadian Men’s National Team debuts in the victory.
“We started fast tonight and that was the focus, to get out
\u200bthere and be first. It was great to see the intensity they started with. With
\u200bHaiti, they’re never going away, with their athleticism and their spirit to
\u200bkeep fighting, they’re a hard team, said Head Coach John Herdman. “I think tonight the boys were really
\u200bprofessional about how they managed themselves in a game that was so physical
\u200bagainst Haiti.”
All of Canada’s matches at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup will
\u200bbe broadcast live in Canada on OneSoccer, with Canada’s final Group Stage match
\u200bon Sunday 18 July against the hosts USA (16.00 local / 17.00 ET / 14.00 PT),
\u200bwith only the top-two teams from the group advancing to the Concacaf Gold Cup
\u200bQuarterfinals. Fans will find extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital
\u200bchannels on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube featuring the hashtag
\u200b#CANMNT.
“(Getting the record) feels good, but, it feels better to
\u200bwin for the team. I was happy to get three points and move on to the US,” said Cyle
\u200bLarin. “We’re going into the next game with confidence. I know we went through
\u200ba little spell, but, it’s always a good match against the US and we’re heading
\u200bin with confidence.”
Canada started on the front foot with Tajon Buchanan picking
\u200bup where he left off with penetrating runs down the left wing. This time,
\u200bBuchanan’s combinations with Larin created opportunities for Canada early,
\u200bleading to a early chance in the 3’ minute that led to a Canada corner. On the
\u200bensuing play, Lucas Cavallini drew a foul at the top of the box to earn Canada
\u200ba free kick, which he and Stephen Eustáquio stood over in the 5’. After a
\u200bCavallini run up, Eustáquio’s pure strike squeezed into the left side of the
\u200bnet behind goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre.
Haiti made things difficult in the middle of the pitch for
\u200bstretches of the first half while looking to counter. Buchanan, however,
\u200bcontinued to operate out wide creating a pair of chances in the 21’ including
\u200bone for Mark-Anthony Kaye that a Haitian defender narrowly took off his boot in
\u200bthe box.
Maxime Crepeau was forced into making a point blank save in
\u200bthe 23’ minute on what was eventually called offside. Haiti pressured Canada
\u200bfor a spell through later stages of the first half, but, Canada was able to go
\u200binto halftime with the 1:0 lead.
After drawing a yellow card in the 48’ when Alistair
\u200bJohnston was taken down wide right, Buchanan showed once again that his pace
\u200band attacking prowess can create problems. After a quick wall pass with
\u200bJonathan Osorio, Buchanan took the ball to the goal line before pulling it back
\u200binto the box where both Cavallini and Larin awaited. Cavallini had the ball
\u200bknocked away from a sliding defender, but Larin made no mistake scoring his
\u200brecord-setting 9thgoal of 2021 in the 52’.
Haiti pulled one back four minutes later off a through ball
\u200bto Stephane Lambese in the 56’.
After Herdman made his first three changes of the match in
\u200bthe 66’ Canada gained momentum. Shortly after Kaye hit the post on a deflected
\u200bshot, Larin threaded a brilliant ball to the back post just beyond a sliding Junior
\u200bHoilett. A waiting Buchanan got a shot on net that hit the post and Sylvestre was
\u200bout of danger momentarily.
As Canada recycled the ball, Richie Laryea was sent through
\u200bby Cavallini and taken down in the penalty area. After a brief spell, the
\u200breferee was called to review the play at the VAR screen and awarded Canada the
\u200bpenalty which Larin buried in the 74’.
Debutant and second-half substitute Ayo Akinola got straight
\u200binto the action in the 77’ drawing a second penalty after being taken down in
\u200bthe box. Haiti received a red card and Hoilett stepped up to score a fourth for
\u200bCanada in the 79’.
Eustáquio earned a late yellow card for Canada meaning he
\u200bwill miss the last Group Stage match Sunday against the United States.
Canada’s starting XI featured Maxime Crépeau in goal, Doneil
\u200bHenry at right back, Steven Vitória at centre back, Kamal Miller at left back,
\u200band Tajon Buchanan, Alistair Johnston, Stephen Eustáquio, Mark-Anthony Kaye,
\u200bJonathan Osorio, Lucas Cavallini and Cyle Larin from the midfield up through to
\u200bthe attack. Head Coach John Herdman replaced Cavallini, Osorio, and Johnston
\u200bwith Junior Hoilett, Samuel Piette, and Richie Laryea (69’), Larin and Buchanan
\u200bwith Ayo Akinola and Tyler Pasher (77’).
CANADA SOCCER’S MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM
Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team are two-time Concacaf
\u200bchampions, previously winning the 1985 Concacaf Championship and 2000 Concacaf
\u200bGold Cup. This year marks Canada’s 15th participation at the Concacaf Gold Cup
\u200bsince 1991. Along with their first-place finish in 2000, Canada reached the
\u200bSemifinals in 2002 and 2007. Across the past five years from 2017 to 2021,
\u200bCanada are one of only four nations that have finished top-six across all three
\u200bConcacaf major tournaments: fifth place in Concacaf Nations League A and sixth
\u200bplace at both the 2017 and 2019 Concacaf Gold Cups.
The 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup provides Canada’s exciting young
\u200bteam with an important opportunity to build momentum and gain valuable
\u200bexperience while playing meaningful matches against some of the top nations in
\u200bthe region ahead of the Concacaf Final Round in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.