Canada defeats the United States, putting a stop to a soccer energy shift. If it wasn’t already clear which country in North and Central America and the Caribbean had the best soccer team during this World Cup qualifying cycle, Canada made a strong case for its superiority on Sunday.
In the eight-team group that will decide which teams from Canada and the United States will play in this year’s World Cup, Canada kept its lead. It beat the United States 2-0 to keep its lead at the top. When Canada plays its last four games in November, it will be in the running for one of three automatic spots in Qatar. It is now 4 points behind its closest rival with four games left.
With its hardest tests behind it, Canada hasn’t been beaten in home and away games against the United States (1-0-1) and Mexico (1-0-1). A generational achievement could be right around the corner. If Canada makes it to the World Cup, it would be the first time its men’s team has been there since 1986.
There was a lot of noise when the US lost, but it wasn’t very bad for the country. ThFor a short time, the ited States stayed in second place in the table for a short time, just ahead of Mexico, which played Costa Rica later on Sunday.
The last time Canada played in a major soccer tournament, only one member of its current national team was still alive: defender Atiba Hutchinson, 39. As a result, Canada has gone from being an afterthought toto being major player. Cyle Larin, who scored an early goal on Sunday, and Sam Adekugbe, who added the late goal, have made Canada a major player.
With its victory, Canada became the only team in the area to remain unbeaten in the final round of qualifying, and it beat the United States for the first time in 42 years inoforld Cup qualifying.
CaAfter just seven minutes, Canadaook advantage of a sloppy start by the United States to score a goal aEven ththohe United States started to dominate the game, Canada held on for the rest of the game. People braved the wind chill of 18 degrees Fahrenheit to watch the game. Canada gave up possession at times but lost little ground, matching the Pepeople stress with aggressive, physical, and at times even pugnacious responses, n front of a huge crowd.
U.S. mistakes led to the first goal being reached. CaIn a very short time, Canadaot Matt Turner’s quick goal kick in the air, then used a quick exchange of passes to turn a turnover into a goal in a very short time. After a give-and-go with Jonathan David, Larin got a step on U.S. heheartback les Robinson, who fell as he tried to keep up, and fired a shot past Turner.
It took a while fofor the A to get more of a handle on things, but they did it over time as the first half went on. However, the same problem that marked its previous qualifying missteps came back: It didn’t convert its chances.
US Coach Gregg Berhalter has used a lot of rotation, especially at the front, as he has tried to keep the team stable and meet his goals in World Cup qualifying. In the game against El Salvador on Thursday, Jess Ferreira started. On Sunday, Gyasi Zardes started instead of Ferreira and Ricardo Pepi, who will be thy to the United States’ chances at the World Cup. Zardes was called on again by Berhalter on Sunday. At times, he looked like he couldn’t keep up, and he was replaced in the 67th minute. At this point, Canada was ready to protect its victory. Pepi gave the game a boost.
Zardes, on the other hand, was not the only American who didn’t use his chances. In the thirty-sixth minute, Christian Pulisic hit a free kick that went over the goal.
On a counterattack in the second half, Adekugbe broke ththruhe dedefenseo score. The Canadians knew they were going to win, and maybe even make it to the World Cup. In a few more games, the players and their fans might start to think that this is the chance of their lives.
