Canada beat El Salvador 2-0 in Houston Tuesday to finish top of their Concacaf Gold Cup first round group to advance to the quarterfinals.
The Canadian men had previously beat Honduras 6-0 and drawn 1-1 with Curaçao in the group stage.
The first half was short on quality, but full of incident, with El Salvador particularly guilty of reducing the contest into chaos.
The Central Americans needed a win to continue in the tournament but managed only to produce undisciplined performance, committing numerous early fouls.
“Typical Concacaf,” said Jonathan David when asked about the first half. “I think a bit chaotic, a lot of fouls. But we knew that. We expected this so we were just ready for it.”
El Salvador sees early red card
Eventually El Salvador midfielder Santos Ortiz was sent off in only the 35th minute after receiving a second yellow card for cutting down Niko Sigur in midfield.
With the man advantage, Canada increased the pressure on their opponents. But clear chances remained at a premium.
Canadian forward Promise David should have put his side ahead in the first minute of stoppage time. But he only managed to glance his header wide from a Derek Cornelius deep cross, when it looked easier to score.
Loading ...The best opportunity to score in the first half came after Jacob Shaffelburg was brought down in the penalty area in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Jonathan David, serving as Canada’s captain in the absence of Alphonso Davies, stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick. But Canada’s top goal scorer saw his effort saved well by El Salvador keeper Mario González – though the Canadian striker will feel he should have done better.
But there was more excitement to come before the break. El Salvador were reduced to 9 men when Jairo Henriquez was shown a straight red for intentionally elbowing Canadian defender Alistair Johnston in the face in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
Canada win with composed second half effort
Canada emerged from the dressing room for the second half with renewed purpose, given their superior quality and numerical advantage. And it didn’t take long until they found their reward.
Jonathan David did get his goal in the end, with a moment of class in the 53rd minute. The Canadian captain scored slotted past the El Salvadoran keeper to earn his 35 international goal after a clever through ball by Mathieu Choiniére.
And two minutes later Tajon Buchanan doubled the lead. The Canadian winger shot past González after Sigur played him a pass through a depleted and disorganized El Salvadoran defence.
The second goal pushed the result beyond doubt, and the Canada’s victory was comfortable and inevitable.
Canada will next face Guatemala in the quarterfinals in Minneapolis, Minnesota Sunday, with the winner facing the United States or Costa Rica.
“I think we recover now and get back to training,” said David after the match. “Pretty simple.”
