Canada got its Concacaf Gold Cup preparations off to a good start with a 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in a closed-door training match at Titan Stadium on the campus of Cal-State Fullerton Monday.
Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield scored both goals for Canada, which kick off Gold Cup play Saturday at the Rose Bowl against Martinique in their Group A opener. The Soca Warriors face Panama at Allianz Field on June 18 in their first match.
Both goals were well-worked, which no doubt pleased coach John Herdman. In the first half, Toronto FC’sJonathan Osorio played to Alphonso Davies, who made a darting run toward the endline before the former Vancouver Whitecaps star cut the ball back to the right edge of the six-yard box.
Junior Hoilett headed to Arfield, who lashed a full volley inside the far post from eight yards out.
Another chance materialized in the first half when Montreal Impact midfielder Samuel Piette found Davies out wide and the Bayern Munich midfielder slipped to Lucas Cavallini, whose left-footed shot from 15 yards out was saved.
Trinidad & Tobago had a chance to equalize later in the first half when Shandon Winchester was played behind the Canada defense. The W Connection striker tried to round goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who got a slight touch on the ball and Winchester’s shot at goal was easily cleared off the line by Whitecaps defender Derek Cornelius.
Arfield had his brace after an eight-pass sequence starting from a free kick from Orlando City SC midfielder Will Johnson.
After Jonathan David turned inside of two defenders, he played to Russell Teibert and the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder clipped a ball out to Arfield just outside of the arc above the 18-yard box. Arfield combined with David, who headed back to Arfield and the Canadian captain finished off the bounce to double Canada’s lead.
