Canada forward Cyle Larin (9) and defender Moïse Bombito (15) compete for the ball with United States defenders Tim Ream (13) and Kristoffer Lund (23) during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Charlie Riedel
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Canada outclassed a young U.S. side in a 2-1 men’s soccer friendly win Saturday, the first victory over its North American rival on U.S. soil in 67 years.
Jacob Shaffelburg and Jonathan David scored for the 40th-ranked Canadians, who led 1-0 after a dominant first half. Substitute Luca de la Torre replied for the 16th-ranked Americans, who offered more resistance after the break.
Canada heads to Texas next to face No. 17 Mexico on Tuesday in Arlington. The Canadians will then host No. 35 Panama on Oct. 15 at Toronto’s BMO Field.
The Canadian men’s last win over the U.S. was in January 2022, a 2-0 decision in World Cup qualifying play in Hamilton. Their last victory over the Americans on U.S. soil was in July 1957, a 3-2 World Cup qualifying victory in St. Louis.
Canada was the better team in the first half at Children’s Mercy Park and went ahead in the 17th minute via Shaffelburg. The Canadian lead could have been healthier had it not been for U.S. goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
Canada outshot the U.S. 11-1 (5-0 in shots on target) in the opening 45 minutes, with former CF Montreal midfielder Mathieu Choiniere, now with Switzerland’s Grasshoppers, and Vancouver Whitecaps winger Ali Ahmed both excelling.
Canada started brightly and took the lead when Johnny Cardoso’s pass went astray, in the face of the Canadian high press, deep in the U.S. end. The ball went from Stephen Eustaquio to David to Shaffelburg, who beat Schulte with a left-footed shot for his fourth Canada goal.
According to Opta, it represented Canada’s earliest lead in an away game against the U.S. since Ike McKay scored in the ninth minute in August 1972.
David doubled the lead in the 58th minute, sweeping the ball home past Schulte after Tim Reams failed to clear. It was David’s 29th goal for Canada, tying him with Cyle Larin for the men’s all-time lead.
The U.S. pulled one back in the 66th minute with a scrappy goal from de la Torre – his first for the national team – after some spotty Canadian defending in its own box. Canada thought the goal should have been ruled offside.
The Americans went into Saturday with a 17-10-13 record against Canada. They had been unbeaten (8-0-2) at Children’s Mercy Park, where they had outscored their opposition 20-2 prior to Saturday.
It was the first action for the Canadian men since a penalty shootout loss to No. 11 Uruguay in the July 13 third-place game at Copa America.
Canada came into Saturday with a 1-3-4 record – albeit against elite opposition, including a pair of 2-0 losses to top-ranked Argentina – under coach Jesse Marsch. One of those ties turned into the shootout loss to Uruguay and another into a shootout win over No. 37 Venezuela in the Copa quarterfinal.
The Canadian men had scored just four goals in the previous eight games under Marsch.
Canada and the U.S. last met in July 2023 when the U.S., under former coach Gregg Berhalter, defeated Canada in a penalty shootout in Cincinnati after the Gold Cup quarterfinal finished knotted at 2-2. The previous month, the U.S. blanked Canada and then-coach John Herdman 2-0 in the CONCACAF Nations League final in Las Vegas.
The U.S. are currently led by assistant coach Mikey Varas with former Tottenham and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino reportedly the favourite to become the permanent replacement for Berhalter, who was fired July 10 after the Americans failed to survive the Copa America group stage.
The U.S. were missing Geo Reyna, Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson and Tim Weah. Canada was without the injured Sam Adekugbe and Theo Bair.
A suspected hamstring injury forced Canadian fullback Alistair Johnston off the 23rd minute, replaced by Richie Laryea.
Canadian ‘keeper Maxime Crepeau made his first save in the 48th minute, easily handling a low Folarin Balogun shot off a U.S. corner.
Canada captain Alphonso Davies need treatment after tumbling over the advertising boarding behind the U.S. goal, but stayed in the game. Canadian defender Derek Cornelius meanwhile, kept going with a bandaged head after taking a blow.
The U.S. fielded a young starting 11, with eight players aged 23 or younger. While Canada’s starters included just two players 23 or younger (Davies and Ahmed, both 23), there were seven starters 25 or younger.
Canada’s starting 11 went into the match with a combined 361 caps compared to 291 for the U.S. starters.
Sporting Kansas City forward Stephen Afrifa and CF Montreal midfielder Nathan Saliba both came in off the bench in the 94th minute for their first Canada caps.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 7, 2024
