As fans from coast-to-coast come down from the high of Tuesday night and what it means to the Canadian soccer landscape, let’s remember, in a sobering way, how far we’ve come. Canada’s 2-0 victory over the United States in CONCACAF Nations League action was its first win against the Americans since 1985 – a 17-match stretch that saw Les Rouges come up short over and over and over again. The last time Canada faced the U.S. at home was 2012 at BMO Field in Canada Soccer’s centennial match. Kevin McKenna, Dwayne De Rosario and Lars Hirschfeld played all 90 minutes in the scoreless draw. It was a different time. What would you go back and tell someone watching then? This time? Teenagers Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies led the line. Defender Derek Cornelius frustrated the U.S. attackers. Heck, Junior Hoilett came off the bench. How bizarre is that? It was a banner night, to say the least, in a match that sparked the Canadian soccer fanbase like few before in recent memory. Here’s a closer look at some inspiring Canada victories we’ve seen this decade.
US Virgin Islands 8-0 Canada – Sept. 9, 2018 (CONCACAF Nations League qualifying)
Canada 8, US Virgin Islands 0. Canada doesn’t usually win big. While a match versus a CONCACAF minnow isn’t exactly the biggest occasion, this record-setting win, in retrospect, set a tone for Canada. Eight of the 11 players that played that day in Florida featured for John Herdman’s side Tuesday against the U.S., including debutants Jonathan David and Derek Cornelius. All in all, it was a match of records; eight goals scored set a new team mark, and David became the youngest player to score in his Canada debut at just 18. Despite the opposition, this win moved the needle for Les Rouges as they prepared for a first international run under Herdman.
Canada 1-0 Honduras – Nov. 13, 2015 (2018 World Cup Qualifying)
Call it an “answer-back” win, as Canada’s 1-0 triumph over Honduras at BC Place helped heal some of the wounds sustained from … uhh, you know … With Benito Floro at the helm, Canada looked confident over the 90 minutes in the first of four fourth-round qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, a stage the Canadians hadn't advanced past since 1997. Junior Holiett’s slicing cross found Will Johnson and Cyle Larin at the back post in the 38th minute, giving the home side a lead against Honduras. Could you believe it? What followed was one of the more promising moments we’ve seen from the men’s side in recent memory – one match, one win to open a more earnest stretch of World Cup qualifying. Steady defending and decent buildup play were particular highlights. Plus, we all remember where we were when Johnson smashed the post off a free kick from seemingly miles away. The best scene unfolded at the final whistle – Johnson and Milan Borjan enjoyed some emotional celebrations just three years removed from Honduran heartbreak.
Canada 1-0 Panama – Sept. 7, 2012 (2014 World Cup qualifying)
Let’s go back to 2012, before Uber and way before you started getting food shipped to your door via a phone app. Canada beat Panama, piquing interest across the country as Les Rouges neared a spot in the Hex via promising fourth round results. My goodness, and the goal. Something worth squinting at on your Blackberry for over and over again. After a foul on the edge of the box, Atiba Hutchinson approached the ball rather quickly. Taking the free-kick right away, Hutchinson found Dwayne De Rosario unmarked at the back post for a 77th-minute marker. Kevin McKenna was named man of the match in front of 17,586 fans at BMO Field, as Canada moved joint-top of their qualifying group. The match looked to light something special outside of the squad, too, with a loud and raucous atmosphere at BMO Field. "It was fantastic," De Rosario said. "We had heard about the buzz across the country and around the city."
Canada 2-0 U.S. – Oct. 15, 2019 (CONCACAF Nations League, League A, Group A)
Another needle-moving result, Canada took down the U.S. for the first time in 34 years. Alphonso Davies and Lucas Cavallini completed the scoring efforts. Jonathan David and Davies provided a formidable teenage duo up top. Samuel Piette swallowed up every ball that came close. Milan Borjan was superb. Even Richie Layrea, in just his third appearance, made Chelsea signee Christian Pulisic look like an ordinary CONCACAF winger. How big of a moment was this for Canadian soccer? Not only does it increase Canada’s chances of making "the Hex" in World Cup qualifying, but Les Rouges now stand poised to compete in the CONCACAF Nations League finals. "We made history tonight, but our job is not done," Davies said after the match. "It’s a statement for Canadian soccer, because we know we have good players on this team. … We showed it tonight." Will there be more wins like this to come? We’ll see as early as Nov. 15 when Canada visits the U.S. in the reverse Nations League fixture in Orlando.
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US Virgin Islands 8-0 Canada – Sept. 9, 2018 (CONCACAF Nations League qualifying)
Canada 8, US Virgin Islands 0. Canada doesn’t usually win big. While a match versus a CONCACAF minnow isn’t exactly the biggest occasion, this record-setting win, in retrospect, set a tone for Canada. Eight of the 11 players that played that day in Florida featured for John Herdman’s side Tuesday against the U.S., including debutants Jonathan David and Derek Cornelius. All in all, it was a match of records; eight goals scored set a new team mark, and David became the youngest player to score in his Canada debut at just 18. Despite the opposition, this win moved the needle for Les Rouges as they prepared for a first international run under Herdman.
Canada 1-0 Honduras – Nov. 13, 2015 (2018 World Cup Qualifying)
Call it an “answer-back” win, as Canada’s 1-0 triumph over Honduras at BC Place helped heal some of the wounds sustained from … uhh, you know … With Benito Floro at the helm, Canada looked confident over the 90 minutes in the first of four fourth-round qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, a stage the Canadians hadn't advanced past since 1997. Junior Holiett’s slicing cross found Will Johnson and Cyle Larin at the back post in the 38th minute, giving the home side a lead against Honduras. Could you believe it? What followed was one of the more promising moments we’ve seen from the men’s side in recent memory – one match, one win to open a more earnest stretch of World Cup qualifying. Steady defending and decent buildup play were particular highlights. Plus, we all remember where we were when Johnson smashed the post off a free kick from seemingly miles away. The best scene unfolded at the final whistle – Johnson and Milan Borjan enjoyed some emotional celebrations just three years removed from Honduran heartbreak.
Canada 1-0 Panama – Sept. 7, 2012 (2014 World Cup qualifying)
Let’s go back to 2012, before Uber and way before you started getting food shipped to your door via a phone app. Canada beat Panama, piquing interest across the country as Les Rouges neared a spot in the Hex via promising fourth round results. My goodness, and the goal. Something worth squinting at on your Blackberry for over and over again. After a foul on the edge of the box, Atiba Hutchinson approached the ball rather quickly. Taking the free-kick right away, Hutchinson found Dwayne De Rosario unmarked at the back post for a 77th-minute marker. Kevin McKenna was named man of the match in front of 17,586 fans at BMO Field, as Canada moved joint-top of their qualifying group. The match looked to light something special outside of the squad, too, with a loud and raucous atmosphere at BMO Field. "It was fantastic," De Rosario said. "We had heard about the buzz across the country and around the city."
Canada 2-0 U.S. – Oct. 15, 2019 (CONCACAF Nations League, League A, Group A)
Another needle-moving result, Canada took down the U.S. for the first time in 34 years. Alphonso Davies and Lucas Cavallini completed the scoring efforts. Jonathan David and Davies provided a formidable teenage duo up top. Samuel Piette swallowed up every ball that came close. Milan Borjan was superb. Even Richie Layrea, in just his third appearance, made Chelsea signee Christian Pulisic look like an ordinary CONCACAF winger. How big of a moment was this for Canadian soccer? Not only does it increase Canada’s chances of making "the Hex" in World Cup qualifying, but Les Rouges now stand poised to compete in the CONCACAF Nations League finals. "We made history tonight, but our job is not done," Davies said after the match. "It’s a statement for Canadian soccer, because we know we have good players on this team. … We showed it tonight." Will there be more wins like this to come? We’ll see as early as Nov. 15 when Canada visits the U.S. in the reverse Nations League fixture in Orlando.
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