Canada’s Cyle Larin scores against the United States during the first half of a World Cup soccer qualifier Sunday in Hamilton, Ontario. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
HAMILTON, Ontario — Canada established itself as the dominant nation in soccer’s North and Central American and Caribbean region, taking a big step toward reaching the World Cup for the first time since 1986 with a 2-0 victory on Sunday over the United States.
Cyle Larin scored in the seventh minute and Sam Adekugbe added a goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. Canada beat the U.S. for just the second time in 37 years, remaining unbeaten in qualifying through 10 of 14 games.
Included are a win and a draw against both the U.S. and Mexico, traditionally the region’s dominant nations.
“I genuinely believe that these men have an opportunity to really leave a proper football legacy on this country moving forward,” Canada Coach John Herdman said.
The U.S stumbled on the road for the fourth time in five qualifiers but remains on track to return to the World Cup with four games remaining. Up next is a chilly encounter with El Salvador on Wednesday night in what could be sub-zero temperatures at St. Paul, Minnesota.
“Our focus right now is finishing off the window with a win,” U.S. Coach Gregg Berhalter said. “If we can do that, we’ll be in good position.”
Canada beat the U.S. in qualifying for the first time since 1980 and leads North and Central America and the Caribbean with 22 points. The U.S. and Mexico both have 18 points, with the U.S. in second place on goal differential. They’re followed by Panama (17), Costa Rica (13), El Salvador (nine), Jamaica (seven) and Honduras (three).
The top three nations qualify for this year’s tournament in Qatar, and the fourth-place team advances to a playoff against the Oceania champion, likely New Zealand
On sunny but breezy 25-degree day, central defenders Miles Robinson and Chris Richards were the only American outfield starters in short sleeves and just two of Canada’ outfield players wore long sleeves, Jonathan David and Steven Vitória. Canada keeper Milan Borjan wore long pants, while U.S. keeper Matt Turner wore shorts.
Berhalter inserted Gyasi Zardes at forward in place of Jesús Ferreira.
Canada went ahead after a Turner goal kick failed to reach midfield. Kamal Miller headed the ball back toward goal and Jonathan Osorio touched ahead to Larin.
Larin exchanged passes with Jonathan David on a quick counter, turning around defender Miles Robinson, then beat Turner to the far post with a right-footed shot from 14 yards for his Canadian record 23rd international goal, one more than Dwayne De Rosario.
“I decided to stay tight with him,” Robinson said. “And then the one-two got through us and then we collided almost and he tripped me up just a bit.”
Berhalter said Turner might have mis-hit the ball on his goal kick.
“The wind killed the ball flight. … On a smaller field, smaller mistakes make bigger differences,” Turner said through the U.S. Soccer Federation. “It’s frustrating because it was so early in the game. It set the tone and they knew from there they could just pack it in and absorb pressure.”
Larin has 16 goals in qualifying, including a CONCACAF-high 12 this cycle. Canada had gone 15 games since 1993 without scoring in the first half against the U.S., and its only win against the Americans since 1985 had been in October 2019 in the CONCACAF Nations League, ending a 34-year, 17-game winless streak in the rivalry.
“One thing that separates Canada from most of the other teams in the group is the quality of their strikers, and their ability to finish a really small amount of chances,” Berhalter said. “It’s a play out of nothing that two quality players make, and it gives them a win.”
Christian Pulisic, in his second straight quiet game, had a free kick from about 25 yards in the 36th minute but sent the ball over the crossbar.
Weston McKennie nearly scored in the 43rd minute with a 6-yard header from Pulisic’s corner kick, but Borjan leaped and slapped the ball off the underside of the crossbar.
Paul Arriola’s 87th-minute bicycle kick was just wide.
Canada got its second goal when Adekugbe ran onto Miller’s long pass just past midfield, dribbled around Robinson and sprinted on goal while taking four touches, then beat Turner with a left-footed shot from 20 yards for his first international goal.
Canada scheduled the game at Tim Hortons Field, with a field width of 70 yards – about 5 yards less than average.
“We’re playing on a very narrow field, probably has the width of Yankee Stadium, and we’re playing on a very poor FieldTurf,” Berhalter said.
The U.S. had 63% possession and outshot Canada 13-8.
“It’s hard for me to remember a performance away from home this dominant without getting a result,” Berhalter said.
Notes: Tyler Adams, one of only two Americans to appear in every qualifier, was removed in the 67th minute because of a strained right hamstring. Richards injured a foot, forcing the U.S. to finish with 10 men, and Walker Zimmerman was held out because of a hamstring injury. Berhalter said Zimmerman could return Wednesday. … Vitória is suspended for Canada’s next match at El Salvador for his second yellow card, assessed for hacking down Pulisic in the 31st minute. … Panama rallied for a 3-2 win over visiting Jamaica. Mexico was held to a 0-0 draw at home against Costa Rica, and El Salvador won 2-0 at Honduras.
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