Canada off to strong start in FIFA World Cup qualifying

Article content

In reality, the opening round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying should be a formality for the Canadian men’s national team considering the talent at its disposal.

But anyone familiar with the history of the program knows there are few sure things with the men’s national team.

The issue with Canada having to top a group also featuring Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Aruba and Suriname to advance to the next round, is there is absolutely no room for error.

So it was a relief to see Canada build a two-goal halftime lead against Bermuda on Thursday in Orlando, Fla., and cruise to a 5-1 victory.

“It took us a while to get started, but once we did get started, you could see the quality in that team,” said Canada head coach John Herdman. “You can only play one game at a time and what’s in front of you and I thought these boys were very professional tonight. You could see they were enjoying their football and that was a big part of them being together, making sure they could enjoy being back on the field together.”

Article content

Cyle Larin scored a hat-trick to lead the way for Canada, who face the Cayman Islands on Sunday (4 p.m.ET, OneSoccer). Richie Laryea and Theo Corbeanu also scored in the victory.

Canada got off to an understandably slow start against Bermuda considering they haven’t played a meaningful game in nearly a year and-a-half.

But Larin’s opening goal 19 minutes in eliminated some of the early anxiety Canada may have been feeling heading into the contest knowing anything short of a win could derail the qualifying campaign for Qatar before it even got underway.

“I think we addressed it prior to the game that the performance wasn’t going to be perfect,” Herdman said. “The reality is that guys haven’t played together in 16 months. If anyone has played any football in their time, imagine turning up not having played with a group of people in 16 months of this COVID period.

“I think those (first) 15 minutes, you have to credit Bermuda as well, they brought that level of intensity. They have a level of physicality they have a real team spirit and they have pace on the counter-attack and they were always going to be a threat.”

Larin scored with a glancing header on ball swung into the penalty area by Alphonso Davies on a free kick. Larin was playing on familiar ground, spending four seasons with Orlando City FC before moving on to play with Besiktas in Turkey.

The Brampton, Ont., product added a second four minutes later, taking a pass from Davies in the penalty area, stepping around a defender and slotting the ball past Bermuda goalkeeper Dale Eve.

Article content

Davies, who is considered one of the best left backs in Europe playing with Bayern Munich, played further up the field for Canada and created all types of problems for the Bermuda back line, particularly right back Eusebio Blankendal, who had no chance keeping up with the young star.

Canada should have extended its lead later in the half, but Larin inexplicably passed up a quality opportunity to shoot, and Lucas Cavallini squandered a couple of excellent chances. That included missing a sitter from six yards out after Davies did all the work and left it on a tee for him.

Cavallini somehow managed to hit the crossbar with his shot, which was harder to do than put it into the net.

“We haven’t been together as a full group in 16 months or so,” said Laryea. “It’s football, we needed a half to be able to gel and get familiar with each other. This was a good first game for us to have, we grew into the match and we were able to do some good things at the end of it.”

Up two goals at the half, Canada kept up the pressure in the second half and Cavallini had another great opportunity with a header from point-blank range, which he managed to direct right at Eve, who made the save.

While Cavallini was squandering chances, Laryea made the most of his lone opportunity, getting behind the Bermuda defence and onto a ball played through by Samuel Adekugbe. Laryea calmly slotted the ball into the far corner of the net in the 53rd minute to put Canada up 3-0.

The one-way traffic continued as Canada continued to push forward in waves looking to extend is lead.

Article content

It must have put Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan to sleep as he made a mess of the one attacking threat put together by Bermuda as he was unable to hold on to a soft shot from a sharp angle and allowed Kane Critchlow to knock it home to make it 3-1.

Mistakes by Borjan have become all too familiar for Canada, but fortunately for them, this one wasn’t as costly as others have been.

The blunder was quickly forgotten as Larin was able to complete his hat-trick to restore the three goal-lead. He was once again the beneficiary of a run by Davies down the left wing and had a simple tap-in for his third goal.

With the game in hand Canada emptied its bench and made the five allowable substitutes, one being Corbeanu in the 77th minute. It took the 18-year-old Burlington, Ont., product just four minutes to find the net, turning in a cross by Liam Millar to make it 5-1.

“As the game went on, the confidence started to grow and they started to find their rhythm,” Herdman said. “It was always going to be a shaky first 15 minutes, but we said to the guys to not get frustrated, it might feel clunky and there will be moments in the game where your quality will shine through and it really did.”

ONE WIN FROM OLYMPICS

Canada’s under-23 team did what was required to get through to the semifinal of the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico, yet it wasn’t enough to avoid the host in a one-game, winner-goes-to-Tokyo contest.

Canada drew 1-1 with Honduras on Thursday, in the final group game of the eight-team tournament, which was enough to finish second and set up a game against Mexico on Sunday at the Jalisco Stadium, with the winner qualifying for the Olympics.

Article content

Mexico defeated the United States 1-0 earlier in the day to win its group. The United States will face Honduras in the first semifinal. The two finalists qualify for the Tokyo Games from the region.

“I think the first half was a solid performance, there were some good things, our shape was good,” said Canada head coach Mauro Biello. “We played a good team. Those players are all in-season and you saw in the second half where we were running on fumes a little bit in terms of our fitness.

“It’s something we’re going to have to overcome going into our next game, we’re going to have to recover and be strong against a strong opponent.”

Canada finished second by virtue of goal difference as Honduras were one goal better in the standings. A scoreless draw against Haiti on Monday ended up costing Canada top spot in the group and a more favourable match-up against the United States. Canada has not qualified for the men’s Olympic soccer tournament since 1984.

Canada opened the scoring against Honduras in the 28th minute with a powerful diving header from captain Derek Cornelius off a cross from midfielder Patrick Metcalfe. The lead didn’t last long as Honduras captain Denil Maldonado headed in a free kick swung into the penalty area in the 30th minute.

“As soon as you score, you’re really excited, but to concede right after, it’s like getting shot,” said Canadian defender Marcus Godinho. “You have to try and regroup, but the problem is that we’ve played a lot of minutes and they guys were fighting. When you concede a goal, it’s tough to regroup, but I think we did enough to hold on, but now it’s about recovering and getting ready for the next game.”

Article content

A tie was enough for Honduras to win the group, but they had the better chances in the second half as they looked for the victory.

Canada started to look fatigued as the game wore on and Cornelius had to be substituted off with 17 minutes to play after sustaining an injury. Canada was able to hold off Honduras and claim second place in the group, a point ahead of El Salvador, who defeated Haiti 2-1 earlier in the day.

“For sure the game against Mexico will be difficult, but it’s one game (to qualify),” Biello said. “So for us, it’s about being focus on what we can do and we’re going to work on the belief we can get this done.”

Email: dvandiest@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @DerekVanDiest