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Canada begins Nations League with expected rout of USVI

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You have to wonder, if there comes a time when the likes of Jonathan David or Cyle Larin or Lucas Cavallini threaten the all-time record for national-team goals, how much their fortunes were boosted by being part of the first-ever CONCACAF Nations League qualifying campaign. It will be almost unfair to look at their ledgers and compare them to Canadian national-team players of the past.

On Sunday, we got treated to the first of Canada’s “very movable force vs. the unstoppable object” Nations League qualifiers against low-ranked Caribbean federations. There are three more to come.

And, an attack-minded lineup, with three teenagers — David, Liam Millar and, of course, Alphonso Davies — in the starting XI, were two goals up before the game was nine minutes old.

Canada went on to win 8-0. David, in his first start for Canada’s senior side, picked up where he’d left off in the red-hot start to his Belgian campaign. He scored twice. Cavallini scored twice. Larin came on as sub and got two. Junior Hoilett got a tap in on a feed from Davies (who also set up both of Larin’s goals) after Hoilett started the play with a great run up the right wing. Jonathan Osorio opened the scoring.

Basically, it looked like a training session out there. And this is what we expected. For long-suffering Canadian soccer supporters, it was nice to simply ask “who is going to score next?” rather than fret about a result.

Canada had 73 per cent of the ball. The Canadians outshot the USVI 16-0 (so keeper Milan Borjan, yes, indeed did play in this game, even if you didn’t notice him). Canada’s passing accuracy: 93 per cent.

Canada’s next Nations League qualifier is at Toronto’s BMO Field, with Dominica coming to visit. The last time the two nations faced each other, Canada won a World Cup-qualifying aggregate series 6-0 over the two matches. No doubt that the fans at that match in October will be looking for another goalfest.

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5 Comments

  1. Kent

    September 10, 2018 at 1:54 pm

    “It will be almost unfair to look at their ledgers and compare them to Canadian national-team players of the past.” I get where you are going with that, but DeRo had his chance with 6 games against St. Lucia, Puerto Rico, and Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2011 for WCQ and only managed 2 (penalty kick) goals. Dale Mitchell probably didn’t get this kind of opportunity, but DeRo is the guy with the record right now, and I don’t think he can complain.

    As you mention in the article though, it’s nice for one of these games to go the way we think it should! Hopefully the team can keep the good results coming in the upcoming games. Can’t wait for the Dominica game in Toronto!

  2. Cdankochik

    September 10, 2018 at 12:43 pm

    As a Canadian soccer fan, I will take ANYTHING I can get.

    An easy beatdown of a minnow is a welcome sight for these sore eyes.

  3. Ralph

    September 9, 2018 at 8:56 pm

    That is what I want against minnows. No more playing to the level of your opponent. Keep a clean sheet for us and lots of goals in the back of the other team’s net.

  4. Colin Freebury

    September 9, 2018 at 6:06 pm

    Steve, What do you know about Derek Cornelius and the Serbian league in which he plays? Serbians know soccer, and if Cornelius is playing regular minutes in their top league that has to count for something. He looked competent with the ball today, but it’s difficult to assess his defensive play against such a weak opponent. If he is in fact the real deal, then this would be as or even more impressive as having young attacking talent.

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