Canada beats United States 2-0 in Concacaf Nations League play
It was the game we’ve all been waiting for.
Since head coach John Herdman took over the Canadian men’s national team, expectations have been high for this side. The English head coach was supposed to usher in a new era of Canadian soccer and build a team that was meant to compete with the best teams on the continent.
Yesterday’s game, against arguably one of the best teams in Concacaf, was that reference point. How would Canada compete against a team it hasn’t beaten since 1985? For Herdman and his men, this was the game that would tell them how far they’d come.
And they didn’t disappoint, putting in a dominant performance to defeat our neighbours to the south 2-0, and take a commanding lead in League A, Group A of the Concacaf Nations League.
“We’re really proud,” said midfielder Samuel Piette, speaking with Impact Media from Toronto. “It’s a huge accomplishment for the players, our staff, the supporters, and the entire country, to be a part of this historic moment. The feeling is truly incredible.”
It almost seems crazy to think that it’s been 34 years since the Reds have tasted victory against their rivals, especially considering the way Herdman’s men controlled play yesterday; Canada outshot its opponent through 90 minutes and created the better chances, and should’ve gone up by a goal in the opening 20 minutes when the US gave the ball away to Jonathan David, but the forward was unable to convert.
In the end, it may have been fitting that it was Alphonso Davies, Canada’s 18-year-old superstar, who found the opening goal near the hour-mark, getting on the end of a cross and pushing it past Steffen. Samuel Piette, who played all 90 minutes for Canada, was dominant in midfield on his end, keeping possession smartly and breaking up dangerous plays in his final third.
“We’re to be taken seriously,” added Piette. “It’s the message we wanted to send with yesterday’s win. We didn’t want to just win the game or have a good result. We want to perform well, dominate, and impose our style of play, which we did as of the first minute. Hopefully it sends a message to the other teams in Concacaf. We’re a good team, a serious team, and we want to accomplish great things.”
Qualifying to the Hex
Yesterday’s win not only gives Canada a stranglehold on Group A, it also temporarily places them among the top six Concacaf teams in the official FIFA rankings, meaning Canada will have a chance to qualify to the Hex, the main way of qualifying to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Canada will, however, take on the United States again this month, this time in enemy territory, and that result will also have an effect on where Canada finds itself in the FIFA rankings once qualifying for the World Cup comes around.
“It’s been our goal since day one,” explained Piette. “We know this group’s quality and potential. We’re focused on that goal, but it’s only the beginning. It’s a long process, but we’ve gotten off to a great start.”
From teammates to opponents
For Piette, yesterday’s game was a little more special; representing the Stars and Stripes on the other end, Daniel Lovitz was also named to the starting 11 for yesterday’s game, marking the first time the two teammates ever faced each other in international play.
The American international also put in a 90-minute shift against the Reds, after starting his team’s previous game against Cuba, just three days prior.
“It was special to see him,” added Piette. “It was strange to shake his hand after the national anthems as opponents. We didn’t come face to face on field too often, but we spoke after the game. He’s happy for me, and I would’ve been happy for him in the opposite scenario. I’m excited to see him again in Montreal.”
