Updated yesterday at 11:31 p.m.
Jonathan David, again. And Atiba Hutchinson, the eternal. Canada won 2-0 against El Salvador in their capital on Wednesday in a qualifying match for next November’s World Cup.
After Sunday’s fireworks in Hamilton, it was CONCACAF’s reality check for the maple leaf. El Salvador offered rough play that had the almost sole purpose of breaking the Canadian rhythm. Despite everything, the visitors continued their good momentum, and took another step towards Qatar.
Captain Atiba Hutchinson, 39, scored the winning goal in the 66thand minute.
“Marked” is a big word: after a good run from Cyle Larin on the right, then a shot blocked by the goalkeeper’s foot, the ball bounced… on the back of Hutchinson, lying on the ground to the right of the net. Goalkeeper Kevin Carabantes did try to save the furniture, but the leather had already crossed the line.
It was a really weird goal. I didn’t really realize it to be honest. […] I was lucky there, but sometimes you need luck in soccer.
Atiba Hutchinson
A CONCACAF-type goal, if there is one. But Canada was going to take it.
Then, at the 93and minute of this grueling match, Milan Borjan made another of his miraculous saves.
And as if to thank him, the lightning Canadian counter-attack struck a few moments later. Jonathan David grabbed the ball in the center circle and went on a breakaway. From midfield to the penalty area. He only had to gently lob the ball over the keeper to put on the insurance goal.
“I felt that the El Salvador player was going to play the touch [au milieu du terrain], commented Jonathan David in French, by videoconference. When I found myself against the goalkeeper, it was really just to concentrate, calm down and finish the action. »
Canada concludes this qualifying week with a perfect harvest of 9 points out of 3 games. And he does it without allowing a goal.
“It’s something incredible,” said David. We are all proud of the team, the defense and everyone. It’s the defense that doesn’t concede goals, but I think everyone contributes a bit to that. »
“We’re a tough team to beat,” he continued. Defensively, if we stay very strong and we don’t concede a goal, we know that on the other side we can go and score at least one. »
This new victory, the sixth in a row in the Octagonal, puts the selection in an excellent position to quickly confirm its ticket to Qatar during the international window next March. The United States and Costa Rica had won their respective games earlier on Wednesday, already delaying Canada’s qualification.
PHOTO MOSES CASTILLO, ASSOCIATED PRESS
El Salvador goalkeeper Kevin Carabantes blocks a shot.
The first half did not offer a great spectacle, apart from this good chance from Jonathan David, which was cleverly blocked by El Salvador’s substitute goalkeeper, Kevin Carabantes, in the 19th.and minute. The game had been started in the middle by Jonathan Osorio, before he sent Sam Adekugbe deep on the left. The latter had centered a perfectly placed ball for David, who took a powerful shot with the right foot on reception, in the box.
We had to wait for the 57and minute for the game to start opening. And it’s no coincidence: coach John Herdman brought in the offensive wicks Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan and CF Montreal defender Alistair Johnston to try to get a favorable result.
A few minutes later, Canada took the lead. And this, despite a certain increase in pressure from El Salvador.
“It’s one of the toughest places I’ve played in my career,” said midfielder Stephen Eustáquio. The pitch was hard, the environment too, it was hot and the fans were loud. But we expected it. »
From his simple face at the press conference, John Herdman seemed to corroborate Eustáquio’s remarks. It’s that Canada had to make the trip to Central America twice rather than once.
“We are absolutely exhausted, he noted, his eyes in the mist. It was a tough international window. »
“It was a real CONCACAF environment tonight,” added the Canada coach. But that’s good, that’s part of the adventure. We want this type of game. We fell a bit into their chaos for a period of time, but we finished the game well. »
PHOTO MOSES CASTILLO, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Junior Hoilett
The technician had one last little surprise in store for us at the end of the game: defender Zachary Brault-Guillard, also from CF Montreal and recalled the day before, would have ten minutes to assert himself as a replacement for Richie Laryea.
With all that, Canada is still undefeated after 11 out of 14 games in the Octagon. He has 25 points. Its closest pursuers, the United States, have 21. The first three of the group go directly to the World Cup, while the fourth must go through the play-offs.
We can’t savor qualifying yet… but we’re very close to it.
Threat of strike from El Salvador
For a brief moment on Wednesday afternoon, the possibility of this match not being played — and Canada winning by forfeit — seemed very real.
The El Salvador players had said in a statement that they would not step onto the pitch due to unpaid bonuses and disrespectful gestures from their federation.
About thirty minutes later, they published a new press release in which they announced that they wanted to “play for [eux] — same, for [leurs] families and for [leurs] supporters”.
You never get bored in CONCACAF.