They did it. Against all predictions, Canada is heading to its first men’s World Cup in 37 years, becoming the first team from the CONCACAF region to book its ticket for the 2022 edition in Qatar after brushing aside Jamaica 4-0 in the final home game of the qualifying cycle.
It was a party atmosphere from the opening minute at BMO Field in Toronto and it didn’t take long for Les Rouges to open the scoring after just 13 minutes with Cyle Larin beating Jamaica’s goalkeeper on a perfect through ball by midfield maestro Stephen Eustaquio.
A Tajon Buchanan goal just before halftime gave the Canadians a comfortable lead after they wasted a handful of chances, and they eventually rounded out the scoreline with two more goals in the final 10 minutes of the match to officially give way to the celebrations.
It was an unexpected qualifying run by Canada, especially after coach John Herdman and his squad had to navigate the tricky preliminary rounds to reach this point.
It had been a while (1997) since Les Rouges had even reached the final round of regional qualifying and the team also had to play some of its matches without its stars. But Canada showed borderline swagger in topping the table with only one loss so far with one match left to play. Barring surprise scorelines on the final day, they should top the region.
Goals:
CAN — Cyle Larin (Stephen Eustaquio) — 13th min.
CAN — Tajon Buchanan (Jonathan David) — 44th min.
CAN — Junior Hoilett (Tajon Buchanan) — 83rd min.
CAN — Adrian Mariappa (own goal) — 89th min.
(All times Eastern)
Watch if you’re in Canada:
The moment Canada realized their dream 🙌🇨🇦
(via @Sportsnet) pic.twitter.com/25opKC59US
Watch the final whistle if you’re in the USA:
STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM AND CANADA’S HERE.🦉
JUST LOOK AT WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM. ❤️🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/OZvNTu4W5e
WE ARE CANADA! 🍁 WE ARE GOING TO QATAR!#CANMNT #ForCanada #WCQ pic.twitter.com/j6hZYGETak
89th min.: And an own goal to round out the scoring for Canada! Adrian Mariappa touches the ball as his goalkeeper was picking it up and he beats him in the process.
83rd min.: There is the third! And it’s veteran Junior Hoilett who gets it! Tajon Buchanan feeds him the ball and Hoilett manages to poke it home in traffic.
Watch it if you’re in Canada:
GOAL 🍁🍁🍁
WE ARE GOING TO THE FIFA WORLD CUP
Junior Hoilett scores to give #CanMNT a 3-0 lead over Jamaica, and it’s all but assured now!
WATCH 🔴 | #SeeTheeRisehttps://t.co/7JFAUhgjL6 pic.twitter.com/05BvxUQRKF
Watch it if you’re in USA:
JUNIOR HOILETT MAKES IT 3.
CANADA WILL BE MAKING HISTORY. IT’S A PARTY IN TORONTO. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2QJjsBx84g
76th min.: SUB — Now it’s Kamal Miller, a defender, coming in for Jonathan Osorio. Miller is on to help see make sure there’s no drama.
70th min.: SUBS — We’re at that moment in the game. Subs for both sides: Peter-Lee Vassell is in for Daniel Green, and for Canada it’s Liam Fraser for Stephen Eustaquio.
62nd min.: SUBS — Atiba Hutchinson, Alistair Johnston and Lucas Cavallini come in for Doneil Henry, Richie Laryea and Cyle Larin.
Milan Borjan ran all the way over to give him the captain’s armband. #CanMNT
59th min.: Good play by Milan Borjan coming way off his line to stop a Jamaica attack. Meanwhile Doneil Henry is down and the trainers were asking for a sub at one point.
49th min.: Back-to-back chances for Canada! First Larin sends a ball that crosses the face of the goal, but no one was there to put it him. Then Larin feeds Jonathan David moments later but he couldn’t get around it and it goes wide.
46th min.: Second half is underway. Lamar Walker and Tarick Ximinies are on as subs for Jamaica. The Canadian men are 45 minutes away from clinching a spot in the World Cup.
🇨🇦 Tajon Buchanan ɪɴ sʟᴏᴡ ᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴ#CWCQ pic.twitter.com/M1otYvtvqH
44th min.: Second goal for Canada! Tajon Buchanan wins a free kick wide left and the set piece is collected by Jonathan David who curls in a cross. A Jamaican defender gets a touch, but the ball falls to Buchanan who hammers home.
Watch it if you’re in Canada:
GOAL 🍁🍁
TAJON BUCHANAN PUTS #CANMNT UP 2-0 vs. Jamaica
WE. ARE. (pretty much). GOING. TO. THE. WORLD. CUP. ✈️
WATCH 🔴 | #SeeTheeRisehttps://t.co/7JFAUhgjL6 pic.twitter.com/oVelTI4DHv
Watch it if you’re in the USA:
Tajon Buchanan gives Canada a 2-0 lead heading into the half! #CANMNT fans… it’s happening!
📺: @NBCUniverso
(via @TelemundoSports) pic.twitter.com/gpR9f86QCJ
38th min.: Another chance for Canada, but they have to be concerned they’re not putting them away.
Beautiful ball down the left by Hoilett for Adekugbe and yet another cross from the left back finds Larin at the top of the box. But the goal scorer tries to place it and it finishes wide. Larin falls to his needs in frustration.
31st min.: Canada are in complete control. This is turning into a 90-minute party. Here’s Alphonso Davies reacting to the breakthrough goal:
Alphonso Davies is A MOOD RIGHT NOW 🤯🍁#CanMNT | #WCQ
(🎥 https://t.co/6V4z9KjVcN) pic.twitter.com/wit9Im1Xkj
21st min.: Canada are dangerous seemingly on every attack. Adekugbe with another run down the left and his ball in the box falls to Tajon Buchanan, who takes it first time and sends it high.
15th min.: Jonathan David just misses scoring a second. The ball finishes wide left.
By the way, here was Eustaquio’s expression on the goal, watching his pass get converted for a goal.
Stephen Eustáquio watching his pass to Cyle Larin #CANMNT pic.twitter.com/Gno9JEQL5M
13th min.: Goal Canada! Cyle Larin put through by Stephen Eustaquio and his shot beats onrushing Andre Blake for the goal. Perfect start for Canada.
Watch it if you’re in Canada:
The overlap from Adekugbe, the hand off to Junior, the set up by Eustáquio and the FINISH FROM LARIN!#CANMNT #ForCanada #WCQpic.twitter.com/g5areEd6ij
Watch it if you’re in the USA:
CYLE LARIN. 💥
His 13th goal in CONCACAF WCQ. 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/IV8ZHVMkZm
6th min.: Sam Adekugbe has been involved down the left side and has already fired off a couple of crosses. It’s Adekube and Junior Hoilett operating in that left channel.
4th min.: Chance Canada! Incredible solo run down the middle by Jonathan David and the ball falls to the feet of Cyle Larin who forces Jamaican ‘keeper Andre Blake into a save.
World-class run by David, but give me Eustaquio’s one touch pass to his teammate All. Day. Long. #CanMNT #WCQ pic.twitter.com/ygx5LORM2W
1st min.: The match kicks off and Canada is already swarming the Jamaica box.
4:04 p.m.: It was goosebumps during the anthem. It’s a big occasion for Canada. Kickoff is moments away.
Absolute scenes. 😍#CANMNT | #WCQ pic.twitter.com/7N22oUHMgN
A soccer nation. pic.twitter.com/UwIn24xItb
BMO Field is about to EXPLODE 🇨🇦🎆
Drop your match prediction below 👇#CANMNT #ForCanada #WCQ2022 @CanadaSoccerEN pic.twitter.com/9ssbg8Wd1s
3:57 p.m.: The flurries are starting to fall just as teams are about to take the field.
Here comes the snow! #canmnt #wcq #AllezLesRouges pic.twitter.com/8YxMXzqTy2
3:00 p.m.: This is no ordinary bus arrival.
The #CANMNT team bus arrives at BMO Field and is greeted by supporters ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/fCjMFaQuoT
The arrival. #canMNT pic.twitter.com/jXi6OxKEOm
2:00 p.m.: Of course a potentially historic day in Canadian soccer is met by snowfall ahead of the March 27 qualifier in Toronto.
The #FrozenFortress strikes again!
🇨🇦🥶👿#CANMNT #WCQ #ForCanada pic.twitter.com/APjOgSaCRM
Alphonso Davies (myocarditis) and Samuel Piette (ankle) are not on the roster and Mark-Anthony Kaye is forced to miss out due to a red card suspension. But Sam Adekugbe and Doneil Henry are back from suspension due to yellow-card accumulation and inserted straight into the lineup.
Veteran Steven Vitoria, who sat out against Costa Rica with a knock is not in the squad. Canadian legend Atiba Hutchinson starts on the bench.
Canada starting lineup (4-4-2, left to right): 18-Milan Borjan (GK) — 3-Samuel Adekugbe, 23-Scott Kennedy, 15-Doneil Henry, 22-Richie Laryea — 10-Junior Hoilett, 7-Stephen Eustaquio, 21-Jonathan Osorio, 11-Tajon Buchanan — 20-Jonathan David 17-Cyle Larin
Canada subs (12): 16-Maxime Crepeau (GK), 1-Dayne St. Clair (GK), 5-Derek Cornelius, 4-Kamal Miller, 2-Alistair Johnston, 14-Cristian Gutierrez, 8-Liam Fraser, 13-Atiba Hutchinson, 6-Ismael Kone, 19-Liam Millar, 12-Ike Ugbo, 9-Lucas Cavallini
Jamaica interim head coach Paul Hall has introduced some of the younger squad members called up for this three-match qualifying window. Veterans like Damion Lowe, Leon Bailey and Andre Gray, who scored Jamaica’s goal on Thursday, are not in the squad. The new names include Jamaican league leading scorer Atapharoy Bygrave, who is in his first senior squad at the age of 28.
Jamaica starting lineup (3-5-2, left to right): 1-Andre Blake (GK) — 8-Ricardo Thomas, 19-Adrian Mariappa, 6-Richard King — 2-Gregory Leigh, 10-Ravel Morrison, 22-Devon ‘Speedy’ Williams, 14-Nicholas Nelson, 21-Javain Brown — 16-Daniel Green, 18-Atapharoy Bygrave
Jamaica subs (10): 13-Jeadine White (GK), 23-Amal Knight (GK), 5-Tarick Ximinies, 20-Ramone Howell, 4-Demar Rose, 11-Tevin Shaw, 12-Lamar Walker, 9-Alex Marshall, 15-Christopher Pearson, 7-Peter-Lee Vassell
MORE: Full recap of Canada’s loss to Costa Rica
Sunday’s match between Canada and Jamaica from BMO Field in Toronto will be televised in Canada on Sportsnet, Telus Ch. 980 and RDS (French). The stream will be available on fuboTV among other platforms.
In the USA the match will be televised on Universo with the stream available on fuboTV, which is available on a free trial. Paramount+ will also stream the match for subscribers in the USA.
Canada come into this match as heavy favorites to not just secure World Cup qualification but do so in style. Jamaica, already eliminated from World Cup contention, has little to play for and they have far from a first team at their disposal.
The Reggae Boyz have kept just two clean sheets across all 12 qualifying matches so far, with one coming at home against last-placed Honduras. The other came in the reverse fixture of this match, with Canada out-passing Jamaica but coming up empty on its five shots on target in a 0-0 draw.
Jamaica was dangerous on set pieces in that October encounter, coming close on a number of occasions, and that has been Canada’s weak point throughout qualifying. That will be Jamaica’s way through in Toronto as well, but the finishing has to be better.
Sports Interaction odds (Canada)
DraftKings odds (USA)
