Canada beats Curaçao in first outing since World Cup

WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao — First-half goals by Jonathan David and Cyle Larin lifted Canada — in its first outing since the World Cup in Qatar — to a 2-0 win over Curaçao in CONCACAF Nations League play Saturday night.

Curaçao was reduced to 10 men in the 37th minute after defender Jurien Gaaru was issued a second yellow card by Costa Rican referee Juan Gabriel Calderon for fouling Ismael Kone. Gaaru and Canadian Richie Laryea were both shown yellows in the 13th minute for tangling in advance of a free kick.

The Canadian men had several chances to add to their lead but were unable to convert. Still the outcome was never in doubt once they went ahead.

The win moved Canada (2-1-0) into top spot in League A’s Group C, above Honduras (2-1-0) on goal difference. The two teams meet Tuesday at Toronto’s BMO Field where a draw or win means Canada wins the group and advances to the June final four in Las Vegas.

Saturday’s result also secured No. 53 Canada and No. 81 Honduras berths in this summer’s Gold Cup by virtue of a top-two finish in the group. No. 86 Curaçao (1-3-0) will be relegated to League B after finishing third in the pool.

It was 26 C at kickoff at Ergilio Hato Stadium in the Curaçao capital. And it took the Canadians a bit to get going on the artificial turf.

David put Canada ahead in the 23rd minute after a period of prolonged Canadian possession. Laryea played provider, sending a perfect pass through a sea of defenders into the Curaçao penalty box, allowing David to redirect the ball past Columbus Crew goalkeeper Eloy Room.

It was David’s 23rd goal in 39 appearances for Canada. Alphonso Davies played his part in the goal, drawing the defence with an overlapping run on the right of Laryea.

Larin doubled the lead in the 43rd minute, taking a pass from David in space in the penalty box and sending a perfectly placed shot past a diving Room for his Canadian men’s record 26th goal in 59 appearances.

Found unmarked in the Curaçao penalty box, Davies had a good chance to make in 3-0 in the 53rd minute but squibbed his shot high.

Curaçao created a couple of chances during the game but lacked clinical finishing. Captain Cuco Martina had a clear shot in the 58th minute but sent it right at goalkeeper Milan Borjan.

Moments later, Room beat Larin to the ball to extinguish another Canada attack. Room stopped Davies again in the 60th minute.

Davies and Larin exited soon after, likely to save them for Tuesday’s contest.

Atiba Hutchinson came on in the 70th minute to earn cap No. 102, adding to his Canadian men’s record. The 40-year-old midfielder has seen limited action this season with Turkey’s Besiktas.