World Cup Report and Reaction: Canada hit Qatar for six in history-making afternoon in Vancouver

History was made at BC Place in Vancouver on Thursday afternoon as Canada turned on the style, and the goals, in a 6-0 rout of Qatar, who finished the match with nine men after two straight red cards. Jonathan David’s hat-trick saw Canada secure their first ever win at the World Cup, and the biggest ever win by a CONCACAF nation at the tournament, to all but guarantee their place in the knockout round, with first place in the group also now in their own hands.

A first half brace from David, and a second of the tournament from Cyle Larin, had Canada three up and coasting at the half against a Qatari side that went down to 10 men when defender Homam Ahmed was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity just past the half hour mark, while his side were already trailing by two.

A Nathan Saliba free kick, an own goal from Mohammed Manai, and a stoppage time sixth from David to complete his hat-trick rounded off the scoring for Canada, with a horror injury to Ismael Kone the only blip on a fantastic afternoon for the World Cup hosts. That tackle saw Kone suffer a broken leg to end his tournament early, with Qatar’s Assim Madibo shown a red card for the challenge.

Jesse Marsch made two changes to the team that drew with Bosnia and Herzegovina, with goalscorer Larin coming in for Tani Oluwaseye and Ali Ahmed making an emotional return to Vancouver in place of Liam Miller.

Qatar came out quickly, creating a chance in the opening moments but it was one of the few forays forward that Canada allowed them in the first half, as they took over the play.

David had Canada’s first chance seven minutes in, but was denied by a good save from Mahmud Abunada, who parried the ball away.

Canada kept pushing, without carving out any clear cut chances, but they found the breakthrough in the 16th minute after a spell of concerted pressure from a corner.

David once again saw his fierce shot saved by Abunada, but this time the keeper could only parry it into the path of Larin just inside the six-yard box and the striker made no mistake, firing Canada ahead with his second goal of the tournament.

The roar for the goal inside BC Place was immense, one of the few advantages of the roof remaining closed for matches.

And it spurred Canada on.

The pressure continued and the second goal felt a matter of when and not if for the hosts.

The when turned out to be in the 29th minute when a deflected shot fell to David inside the box. The striker took it first time on the volley, blasting it past Abunada to send the home fans into dreamland.

Canada didn’t let up and they thought they were going to get their third just two minutes later when Tajon Buchanan raced in on goal and was brought down by Homam Ahmed.

Chilean referee Cristian Garay pointed to the spot, booking the Qatari defender, but the foul was adjudged to have been just outside the box upon video review, and the decision was reversed to a free kick and a straight red card for Ahmed for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Up a man, Canada kept pressing, with the knowledge that a couple more goals and they would be sitting atop Group B.

Qatar were all at sea and Canada weren’t taking their foot off the gas.

The third came three minutes into first half stoppage time when Larin’s goalbound header was acrobatically turned away by a great save from Abunada, only for the ball to fall to David and he made no mistake from close range.

It was a half to remember for Canada and just what the team needed to bounce back from any lingering disappointments from their opener, getting both strikers rolling with goals, and allowing Marsch the opportunity to give some minutes to some fringe players in the second half if he chose to do so.

And he did, bringing Moise Bombito on for Derek Cornelius at the half, while Qatar made a couple of substitutions of their own.

Canada’s dominance understandably continued after the restart, but they were shaken in the 51st minute when Kone was tackled by Madibo, in what immediately looked and sounded like a broken leg for the talented midfielder. The challenge saw Madibo sent off following a video review, as Kone was stretchered off to huge applause from the 52,497 crowd.

With a three goal, and now a two-man advantage, the end result was inevitable and it was just how many Canada would put up now.

Saliba, who had come on to replace Kone, made it four in the 64th minute with a lovely free kick in off the post, that the keeper should have done so much better with, and then it got even worse for Qatar when Manai turned the ball into his own net with 15 minutes remaining.

Canada still weren’t easing up and David got his hat-trick in second half stoppage time when Saliba’s shot found its way through to David in front of goal and he made no mistake from seven yards out to complete the demolition job.

Tempers had been frayed since the injury to Kone and they boiled over at the final whistle with an unsavoury brawl between both teams, which thankfully didn’t draw any unnecessary cards for the Canadians.

Canada’s dominance saw them outshoot Qatar 32 to 2, with 10 on target, with the Qatar’s didn’t muster a single shot on target. They now top Group B on goal difference and need just a point from their final game with Switzerland next Wednesday to win the group and stay in Vancouver for the knockout rounds.

It was an incredible performance from Canada, one that will long live in the memories of Canadian fans both present and watching elsewhere. This is a team that has truly captured the country’s imagination and are making history every step of the way. They’ve got their first point, they’ve got their first win, now they want to win their first group and officially book their first berth into the knockout rounds.

What further history awaits them?

FINAL SCORE: Canada 6 – 0 Qatar

ATT: 52,497

CANADA: Maxime Crépeau; Alistair Johnston, Luc de Fougerolles (Moise Bombito 46′), Derek Cornelius, Richie Laryea (Niko Sigur 82′); Tajon Buchanan (Jacob Shaffelburg 71′), Stephen Eustáquio, Ismaël Koné (Nathan Saliba 57′), Ali Ahmed; Jonathan David, Cyle Larin (Tani Oluwaseyi 71′)

QATAR: Mahmoud Abunada; Homam Ahmed, Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Ayoub Al Oui; Jassem Gaber, Assim Madibo, Issa Laye; Akram Afif, Yusuf Abdurisag, Edmílson Junior

SCORING SUMMARY:
16′ – Canada (1-0) Cyle Larin
29′ – Canada (2-0) Jonathan David
45’+3′ – Canada (3-0) Jonathan David
64′ – Canada (4-0) Nathan Saliba
75′ – Canada (5-0) Mohamed Al-Mannai (Qatar)
90’+2′ – Canada (6-0) Jonathan David

REACTION:

CANADA

JESSIE MARSCH

On the big win:

“We wanted to play the kind of football that would electrify the crowd… these 55,000 were lucky, and what a performance from our team.”

On Ismaël Koné’s Leg Injury:

“It happened right in front of the bench. We could all hear it. I knew right away, it was similar to when Tajon [Buchanan] got hurt in training, it was right in front of us and everyone could hear the bone snap. Your heart goes out to him and everybody’s a little shaken by the whole experience, because of the nature of the injury and also because Ismael is a big part of the heart of our team. It will be a big loss for us, he’s been an amazing player in these last two games.”

“I haven’t spoken to Ismael yet, he’s at the hospital, he will prepare for a surgery. I’m going to see him after this press conference. We’ll see exactly what we decide to do for him. His family is with him at the hospital.”

On the postgame altercations between the two teams:

“I don’t understand a reaction from their entire bench to try to start a fight about it being a red card when a clear foul just happened that broke a player’s leg. So, strange behavior.”

On his clash with Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui

“I’m not wasting a single second talking about that. it’s not worth any of our time to discuss.”