FRISCO, Texas –
Canada is headed to Copa America and a marquee matchup with World Cup champion Argentina.
However it took some time to get there with a well-organized Trinidad and Tobago exhausting to pierce in a CONCACAF Nations League play-in match Saturday. Second-half targets by Cyle Larin and Jacob Shaffelburg earned Canada a 2-0 win — and a visit to the South American championship as certainly one of six CONCACAF visitor groups.
The 96th-ranked Soca Warriors defended resolutely and in numbers as No. 50 Canada got here on in waves.
The Canadian males had 63 per cent possession and an 11-1 edge in corners within the first 45 minutes however couldn’t make something of it.
Interim coach Mauro Biello mentioned his crew was calm on the break.
“They knew that we have been accountable for the sport and simply to remain on process,” mentioned Biello.
The breakthrough lastly got here within the 61st minute when Tajon Buchanan reduce in in direction of the penalty field. He performed the ball right into a teammate in visitors and it landed on the ft of Larin, who beat goalkeeper Denzil Smith a low shot for his Canadian males’s file twenty ninth purpose.
It was a job executed for Canada, though it took some time to get there. And there have been some tense moments as Trinidad pressed late with goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau stopping hazard man Levi Garcia within the eighty fifth minute.
Shaffelburg hammered a shot off the goalpost with Smith overwhelmed within the 86th minute. And he eased the stress within the 91st minute, roofing a shot for his second Canada purpose because the Trinidad defence was caught quick.
Canada slots into Group A with top-ranked Argentina, No. 33 Peru and No. 42 Chile at Copa America, with the Canada-Argentina match kicking off the match opener June 20 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“I am super-happy for all our followers, that is before everything,” mentioned Biello. “What this implies to all our followers is large. To have the ability to be in a Copa America, to play towards the world champions. That is what all of the soccer followers, the sports activities followers on this nation wish to see.”
Canada has performed Argentina simply as soon as earlier than, dropping 5-0 in Might 2010 earlier than 66,000 followers in Buenos Aires.
No. 54 Costa Rica performed No. 78 Honduras within the second play-in sport Saturday at Toyota Stadium.
Saturday’s sport was a must-win for Canada, determined for some excellent news on the pitch amid monetary questions and uncertainty at Canada Soccer. Copa America gives an opportunity for elite opposition because the Canadians look head to the 2026 World Cup.
The Thirteenth-ranked U.S. and No. 15 Mexico, Canada’s co-hosts on the 2026 soccer showcase, received their CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals to qualify on to Copa America, as did Panama.
Mexico and the U.S. meet Sunday within the CONCACAF Nations League ultimate in Arlington, Texas.
Canada got here into Saturday’s sport with a 7-2-2 file towards Trinidad.
The groups have been compelled into the high-stakes play-in match after dropping Nations League quarterfinals in November — Canada overwhelmed by No. 57 Jamaica and Trinidad by the U.S., respectively.
The Canadians blew a 3-1 lead towards the Reggae Boyz and misplaced on the away targets rule with the collection knotted a 4-4. The Soca Warriors misplaced 4-2 regardless of successful the second leg 2-1 in Port-of-Spain.
It was a sunny 18 C for the mid-afternoon kickoff at a largely empty Toyota Stadium.
Crepeau earned his fifteenth cap in his first begin for Canada since a World Cup qualifier in Panama in March 2022. Crepeau, now with the Portland Timbers, missed the World Cup in Qatar after breaking his leg within the 2022 MLS Cup ultimate taking part in for Los Angeles FC.
There have been some bodily moments, prompting Mexican referee Marco Ortiz to indicate 4 yellow playing cards within the first half.
Whereas Canada Soccer continues to seek for a everlasting substitute for John Herdman as coach, Biello has seemed forward to the 2026 World Cup in summoning 10 gamers with fewer than 10 caps in what he has known as a “cultural reset.”
Defender Joel Waterman, who earned his third cap, and ahead Ike Ugbo, who earned his ninth cap, have been the one member of the single-digit cap membership to make a beginning 11 that went into the sport with 34 mixed caps.
FC Porto midfielder Stephen Eustaquio captained Canada which was carrying its new Nike package.
Shaffelburg, Mathieu Choiniere, Jacen Russell-Rowe, Samuel Piette and Luc de Fougerolles got here off the bench for Canada within the second half. It was a Canada debut for de Fougerolles, an 18-year-old Fulham defender.
Halifax Wanderers captain Andre Rampersad began for Trinidad, incomes his twelfth cap. He was changed within the 56th minute by newly signed Pacific FC ahead Reon Moore.
Canada has by no means participated in Copa America earlier than. It was slated to play within the 2001 match as a reward for successful the Gold Cup in February 2000. However CONMEBOL, the South American federation, introduced on the eve of the competitors that it might be postponed to 2002 because of safety considerations in host Colombia.
5 days later, it determined to go forward with the occasion as deliberate. Canada, which had despatched its gamers again to their golf equipment, was changed by Costa Rica.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 23, 2024
