My FIFA World Cup Diary
- Canada did it; blanks Qatar 6-0 for its first ever FIFA World Cup win
- Hat-trick by Jonathan David after Cyle Larin scores in back-to-back games
- Ismael Kone injured in the second half, had to be carried off the field
- PM Mark Carney joins the FIFA President Gianni Infantino to watch Canada script a golden chapter of its soccer history
Canada did it. It scripted a golden chapter of its soccer history by blanking Qatar 6-0 for its first ever FIFA World Cup win. Incidentally, it is the biggest win by any team other than that of Europe or South America in the World Cup.
A hat-trick of goals by Jonathan David, who was later declared man of the match, and goals in back-to-back matches by Cyle Larin (he scored the match equaliser against Bosnia in the first match) warmed the cockles of hearts of a nearly packed BC Place in Vancouver on Thursday.
It was his first hat trick in international soccer since 2021.
There was a distress in the Canadian camp midway in the second half when its experienced player, Ismael Kone, was injured in an aggressive check and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher. Saliba, who came as his substitute, earned the distinction of becoming the first player in the current edition to score a goal from a free kick. He dedicated his goal to his injured teammate Ismael Kone.
After Kone left and Qatar reduced to nine men, Canada pelted in two more besides being helped by a self-goal by a defender who diverted Shaffelburg’s kick into his own goal to add another nail in the coffin of Qatar.
Earlier, in the 31st minute there was controversy when forward Tajon Buchanan was hauled down by defender Homen Ahmed. At first it looked like Canada would be awarded a penalty kick but VAR overruled the decision. Ahmed was shown a red card, leaving Qatar a man down. Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo was issued a red card for an aggressive tackle on Ismael Kone and thus the losers were reduced to nine for the rest of the game.
Jonathan David ended a scoring drought by scoring three goals.
David, who had been denied in his previous four World Cup matches, scored in the 29th minute and the third minute of added time in the first half. He finished the hat trick in the second minute of stoppage time.
Cyle Larin also scored for Canada in the 16th minute, bringing an explosion from the crowd of 52,497. Nathan Saliba, who came in for an injured Ismaël Koné, scored in the 63rd minute and Jacob Shaffelburg in the 75th.
Interestingly, the Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau was not tested throughout the game as the second half after Kone’s injury was played in the Qatar half only.
The historic victory moved the Canadians into a tie for first place with Switzerland in Group B standings and improved their chances of advancing to the knockout round of the 48-team tournament. Canada and Switzerland have four points each but Canada has a better goal difference to occupy the top spot.
Next Wednesday, Canada and Switzerland will play each other to decide the Group leader.
Some sheen of the historic and superb win was slightly tarnished when Koné was carried off the field on a stretcher with a left leg injury suffered in the 51st minute. Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo was issued a red card leaving the team down two men.
There was an electric atmosphere in the building for Canada’s first match in Vancouver. Before the game, fans dressed in red jerseys while waving Maple Leafs sang along to Bryan Adams “Summer of 69” then belted out O’Canada. An avalanche of cheers and chants of “Ca-Na-Da” greeted the team when it stepped on the field.
In the sea of red was an island of white where Qatar fans dressed in traditional robes, waved flags and cheered their team.
The victory came in front of a lively red-clad crowd of 52,497 at BC Place, where spectators included Prime Minister Mark Carney, B.C. Premier David Eby, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim.
The Canadians, dressed in their black uniforms, controlled most of the early stages of the match. Their first good chance came in the seventh minute when David blasted a shot from the side of the net that goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada handled.
The energy that had been building in the stadium exploded when Larin gave the Canadian fans what they came to see. David started the play with a shot that Abunada blocked. Larin, the hero of Canada’s opening 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina, banged the loose ball in for a 1-0 lead.
David put Canada ahead 2-0 with a right-footed shot from about 15 metres out that curled inside the post.
Larin and David combined again in first-half extra time. Larin took a shot that was stopped but David put in the rebound for a 3-0 lead.
There was controversy in the 31st minute when forward Tajon Buchanan was hauled down by defender Homen Ahmed. At first it looked like Canada would be awarded a penalty kick but VAR overruled the decision. Ahmed was shown a red card, leaving Qatar a man down.
Canada was awarded a free kick but David sent the ball over top of the net.
Just a few minutes later, Buchanan had a shot but a Qatar defender cleared it off the line.
Saliba’s goal came off a free kick with a shot that hit the post and went in.
Shaffelburg added another nail in the coffin with a strike that deflected in off a Qatar player.
Earlier in the day, Switzerland defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 in Los Angeles. In eight games over three World Cups, Canada has one win, six losses and a draw.
Canada didn’t score a goal in its first World Cup appearance in 1986 in Mexico and managed just one at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Canada is 30th and Qatar 49th in FIFA world rankings.
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