It won’t last forever, but Canada can still boast that they have never conceded in the history of the Concacaf Nations League.
For the second month in a row, the Canadians made light work of Caribbean opposition on Tuesday, this time taking down No. 177-ranked Dominica in the team’s only home game of 2018.
If was easy, as you’d expect, with Jonathan David, Junior Hoilett, Lucas Cavallini, Cyle Larin and an own goal by Malcolm Joseph responsible for the scoring.
It did feel like Canada left some goals on the table, but they’re still in comfortable position for getting into Nations League A for next year. Les Rouges never really got out of second gear, and given the quality of opposition, we’ll handicap the rankings for this game a bit.
Ratings
Alessandro Busti (5) – Spent a good chunk of the game halfway between the goal line and the halfway line. For the second month in a row, Canada’s goalkeeping didn’t have to do much. He looked sharp in the purple ‘keeper kit.
Manjrekar James (5) – Didn’t have too much to do on the back half. Threw his weight around a bit, won a few free kicks to get out of the little danger Canada got itself into.
Derek Cornelius (5) – Cornelius is really easing his way into the international game. The wins are expected and they’re expected to be comfortable. While the real conclusions will be drawn in the games to come, he seems at ease with the challenges presented to him.
Russell Teibert (5) – Can’t fault his engine. Was lively in large stretches of the game but it looked like he wasn’t too successful in getting past the numbers set up by Dominica’s low block.
Junior Hoilett (6) – Created and finished Canada’s second goal, a lovely passing play. He was lively in possession, clearly wanted the ball at his feet and took just enough contact to draw the penalty for Canada’s third.
Alphonso Davies (5) – Had assists on two of Canada’s goals. That said, he wasn’t at his most consistent. He never really got the chance to use his pace in possession and was guilty a few times of wayward passes that turned the ball over.
Atiba Hutchinson (6) – Quietly dictated things, as he always does. Sat back for most of the game with the defenders but hit some pinpoint long balls to release his teammates. An Atiba kind of night.
Liam Millar (5) – Was just OK. He looked like he tried to do a bit too much at times. Some of his touches were heavy, but having seen him play well against New Zealand earlier this year, I know there’s another gear to his game that we didn’t see tonight.
Lucas Cavallini (5) – Scored a cheeky panenka penalty, but also missed a few quality chances in the first half.
Jonathan David (6) – 18 years old and already on his third goal for Canada at the senior level. David nicely finished off the first goal and put the ball into Hoilett’s path for Canada’s second. Pretty much all you can ask for in an attacking player.
Jonathan Osorio (5) – Osorio must transfer his success at club level onto the national team. After scoring a goal last month, he missed a high-quality chance from close range against Dominica but did show flashes of that Toronto FC form from this season.
Ballou Tabla (6) – Bonus point for getting him cap-tied, which is a huge plus for the program. Coach John Herdman tried to count the stepovers the Montreal ImpactHomegrown product tried when on the field (he guessed 20). Just teased at what is possible with continued development at FC Barcelona.
Cyle Larin (5) – Another game, another goal for the former Orlando City man. Given another opportunity with an open goal against El Salvador from a few yards out, I’d bet real money on him converting this time. In all seriousness, Larin looks like he has regained some of that swagger that he had with Orlando.
Zachary Brault-Guillard (5) – One of six teenagers to play for Canada tonight, Brault-Guillard got to savour the feeling of being on the receiving end of a sumptuous Atiba Hutchinson diagonal ball. Brault-Guillard was taken out by the Dominica goalkeeper as his shot missed high.
