Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team’s historic 2:0 Concacaf Nations League defeat of rival USA at BMO Field on 15 October has been named as the top 2019 Canada Soccer Moment. The victory marked the first time the Men’s National Team registered a victory over the United States in 34 years and was, for the Men’s EXCEL Program, the third victory over a top Concacaf opponent in 2019 after victories over Costa Rica at the U-17 level and Mexico at the U-15 level.
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\u200b“The historic win over United States stands out as a landmark moment for Canada Soccer and our Men’s National Team program in a year filled with historic milestones,” said Peter Montopoli, Canada Soccer General Secretary. “Our Men’s National Team Program accomplishments in 2019 showcased the potential of our aligned system with successes at all levels of international competition and the victory over our rivals is deserving of top spot in our 2019 Canada Soccer Moments.”
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\u200bChristine Sinclair’s 60’ goal against Netherlands in Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team’s final Group E match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 marked her fifth consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup goal equaling the all-time record. Recently named Canada Soccer’s Player of the Decade, Sinclair’s feat came second in the Canada Soccer 2019 Moments.
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\u200bJonathan David became Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team’s second consecutive and third overall Concacaf Gold Cup Golden Boot winner in 2019 scoring six goals in four matches including one of two Canadian hat tricks in the Group A finale over Cuba. After Carlo Corrazin in 2000 and Alphonso Davies in 2017, David’s Golden Boot award earned him the number three spot in the 2019 Canada Soccer Moments.
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\u200bThe inaugural Canadian Premier League season kicked off in April of 2019 and saw 100 domestc professional club matches added to the 2019 soccer schedule with Forge FC lifting the North Star Shield as the inaugural CanPL Champions. The CanPL launch was fourth on the 2019 Canada Soccer Moments followed by Montreal Impact’s 2019 Canadian Championship victory. With the expanded Canadian Championship in 2019, Montreal Impact are Canada’s sole entry in the 2020 Concacaf Champions League.
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\u200bAfter finishing fourth in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference, Toronto FC earned their third MLS Cup Final appearance in four years defeating top seed NYCFC and second seed Atlanta United en route to the Final. Toronto fell to Seattle 3:1 in the MLS Cup Final in Seattle, WA, and are sixth in the 2019 Canada Soccer Moments campaign.
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\u200bRounding out the top ten, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team defender Kadeisha Buchanan’s third straight UEFA Women’s Champions League title, a Player of the Tournament award for Para Soccer National Team player Sam Charron, Men’s National Team players Alphonso Davies and Milan Borjan facing off in UEFA Champions League for the first time in Men’s football and Janine Beckie’s UEFA Women’s Champions League hat trick, only the second-ever Canadian to achieve that feat round out the annual 2019 Canada Soccer Moments.
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\u200b2019 Canada Soccer Player Awards
\u200bThis marks the 27th edition of the Canada Soccer Player Awards. Amongst men’s footballers, Jonathan David finished first in voting ahead of runner up Alphonso Davies and top-five finishers Scott Arfield, Jonathan Osorio and Mark-Anthony Kaye. Amongst women’s footballers, Ashley Lawrence finished first in voting ahead of runner up Janine Beckie and top-five finishers Kadeisha Buchanan, Christine Sinclair, and Stephanie Labbé.
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\u200bAs part of the 2019 Canada Soccer Player Awards, Jayden Nelson and Olivia Smith have been named Canadian Youth International Players of the Year, Luis Rocha has been named Canadian Futsal Player of the Year, and Samuel Charron has been named Canadian Para Soccer Player of the Year. Stephanie Labbé, meanwhile, has been named the 2019 winner of the Allstate Canadian National Teams Good Hands Award.
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\u200bCanada Soccer Moments, Plays and Goals of the Year
\u200bAfter Canada Soccer’s annual Moments campaign outlining the Top 10 Moments from 2019,
\u200bCanada Soccer’s Plays of the Year fan voting will take place from 23 December – 3 January with the winner announced on 7 January 2020. Fans who vote will be entered for a chance to win one of three CanadaRED Prize Packs including a Grand Prize including a signed Nike National Team jersey.
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\u200bCanada Soccer will unveil its Top 10 of the ‘10s Decade on 31 December followed by a National Teams Goal of the Year celebration on 1 January.
Follow Canada Soccer on Twitter ( @CanadaSoccerEN / @CanadaSoccerFR), on Instagram ( @CanadaSoccer) and on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/canadasoccer) to follow the year end campaigns and have your chance to win!