Fresh off a historic win over the United States in Toronto, Canada will once again meet their border rivals in a road game that is described as one the biggest and most important in Canadian team history. Last month, the Reds earned a 2-0 victory over the U.S. – its first against the Americans in 34 years – to put them in the driver’s seat ahead of Friday’s rematch in Orlando. As a result of that win, Canada tops Group A of the Concacaf Nations League with nine points, ahead of the U.S. (three points) and pointless Cuba. A victory or a draw by the Canadians, who have played one extra game than the U.S., would see them win the group and advance to next summer’s Nations League finals, bringing with it additional competitive matches crucial to maintaining a spot in "the Hex" for 2022 World Cup qualifying. Toronto FC fullback Richie Laryea played a starring role in Canada’s win over the U.S. in October, and the 24-year-old native of Toronto is expected to figure prominently again for the Reds on Friday. On the eve of the rematch, CanPL.ca chatted one-on-one with Laryea about his breakout 2019 season for both TFC and Canada, and what another victory over the Americans would mean for the Canadian national team. LIVE BROADCAST ALERT: Watch U.S.A. vs. Canada on OneSoccer, Bell, Rogers, TELUS and SaskTel CANPL.CA: TFC is coming off a 3-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders in Sunday’s MLS Cup final in which you played the last 23 minutes as a substitute. Now you’re in Florida training with Canada ahead of Friday’s game against the U.S. How difficult has it been for you and your TFC teammates Jonathan Osorio and Liam Fraser to put that behind you and put all your focus on the match against the U.S.? LARYEA: It’s been difficult, but I feel like me, Oso and Liam have taken time to reflect on it, while at the same time realizing we have another game to focus on and it’s a big one. We have to put that Seattle result in the past and look towards the match in Orlando. CANPL.CA: By all accounts, you had a breakthrough season with TFC in 2019 after being released by Orlando City a year ago. You’ve also managed to make your national team debut for Canada this year, earning three caps and starting against the U.S. in a high-profile match. What have the past 12 months been like for you? LARYEA: For me, it’s not something I can put into words (with regards to) the type of year it’s been for me, but also more important what it's meant for TFC and Canada. It’s been a good year for both those teams. On a personal level, I’m very happy with how the year has gone. It’s been a complete 180 from where I was last year when I was let go by Orlando, so that’s what makes me the happiest. There’s a lot of people who thought I probably couldn’t do this, so it’s nice for me to be able to play like this, help both TFC and Canada, and prove some people wrong about me. CANPL.CA: You said that people doubted you, but did you ever doubt yourself after leaving Orlando? LARYEA: To be honest, no. I knew what I could do. Yes, getting released maybe put some questions in my head about whether I’m good enough to get into that team and good enough to play in MLS. But those doubts were erased pretty quickly. I believe in myself and I know that I can play at this level. It was just about getting a chance to show what I can do, and I had that with TFC in pre-season. That gave me the confidence and it’s restored the joy I have playing soccer, which is something I didn’t have since I left college. CANPL.CA: You were selected seventh overall during the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, but you only ended up making three league starts for Orlando City, and you spent most of your time there on loan at their USL affiliate. Do you feel you received a fair shake by Orlando City? LARYEA: I don’t believe so. I made three starts there in three years, versus making 16 starts here in Toronto this year, and playing at a new position. Maybe the margin for error is greater here in Toronto with how good of a club it is and the success it’s had, compared to Orlando. But I’d definitely say I didn’t get a fair chance and a fair go of it in Orlando. CANL.CA: How much do you credit your move to TFC to your breakthrough with the Canadian team? LARYEA: It meant everything as to where I am today, playing for Greg Vanney and his staff, and the front office for taking a chance on me and believing in me. They’re the ones that really helped me develop my game in a professional environment. It had everything to do with them, so they’re the ones I have to thank for helping me get where I am now in less than a year. A big, big thanks goes to them. RELATED READING: Cavalry’s Zator finds footing in 1st CanMNT camp CANPL.CA: Does Friday’s game against the U.S. offer you any extra motivation given that it’s being held in Orlando? LARYEA: No. The motivation is to beat the U.S. again, and to top our group. It’s also about making a statement about this group of Canadian players, directed at people who still don’t believe in us, even though we proved it last month in Toronto. We’re here and we’re serious. CANPL.CA: What does Canada have to do on Friday to earn another win against the U.S.? LARYEA: We have to go out with the exact same mentality, we have to be as relentless and tireless as we were last month. The football we played was very good on that day, so we have to do a lot of the same things. We beat them 2-0 and a lot of people said it was a comfortable win because we were all over them. But we need to respect then. They have quality players who can hurt us, so we need to respect what they can do and what they can offer. CANPL.CA: Beyond possibly qualifying for next summer’s Concacaf Nations League finals and the implications for making "the Hex," how important is Friday’s game against the U.S.? What would another win mean for the Canadian national team program? LARYEA: There’s a lot on the line in terms of qualifying for the Nations League finals and playing for some silverware. That’d be big for Canadian soccer. To beat the U.S. also gets us FIFA ranking points and improves our chances of qualifying for "the Hex." But I think the biggest thing is that a win helps us create this new culture for Canadian soccer. It’s also a matter of respect, and the respect level we’d get if we beat them at home. I don’t read what’s being said in the media too much, but I’m sure people were making a million excuses as to why they lost to us last month. To come here and beat them again, it would send a strong message across our country, across the U.S. and across the rest of Concacaf that this Canada team isn’t like the ones they’ve seen in the past. I think a win would help us gain respect across the board.

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