Canada sinks Panama with late goal in international friendly

• Canada 2 (Larin 44’; David 87’), Panama 1 (José Fajardo 69’) 
• Larin, David now have 30 goals for Canada, tied for all-time lead on the men’s side 
• Poku came off the bench in injury time to earn his first cap for the Canadians

TORONTO – The Canadian men's team continues to build upon its amazing summer success at the Copa América and build towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup..  

Cyle Larin and Jonathan David scored to lead Canada to a hard-fought 2-1 win in an international friendly on a cool Tuesday night at BMO Field in Les Rouges' first home game under coach Jesse Marsch. It was also the team's first match on home soil since a loss to Jamaica on Nov. 21, 2023 in Toronto.  

This was far from pretty as Canada was made to work for the result before an announced crowd of 23, 315. But the Canadians continue to make progress under Marsch and showed that they can grind things out with the best of them in Concacaf. 

"It was nice to see that when the game wasn't so easy that we rose to the challenge," said Canada coach Jesse Marsch.

Captain Alphonso Davies added: "We're resilient. We don't give up easy."

Canada sports a record of four wins, four losses and three draws since March’s first game in charge in June. Canada is 38th in the current FIFA world rankings, one spot below Panama.  

Canada is using this October window as preparation for next month’s two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against an opponent that is still to be determined.  

Marsch set his team up in a fluid 4-4-2 formation with Davies and Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea pressing high and overlapping with wingbacks Ali Ahmed and Jacob Shaffelburg. Moïse Bombito continued to build upon his budding partnership with Derek Cornelius in the middle of defence ahead of goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau.   

Midfielders Stephen Eustáquio and Mathieu Choinière comfortably held things down in the centre of the park, while Larin and David gave Panama’s defenders all they could handle. TFC captain Jonathan Osorio was subbed on in the second half. Former CPLer Kwasi Poke came off the bench in injury time to earn his first cap for Canada.  

Canada carried the bulk of the play in the first half and carved out the better scoring chances while enjoying a 7-2 lead in total shots (4-0 in shots on target). But it was who Panama looked to have opened the scoring in the eighth minute through Abdiel Ayarza, only to see his goal ruled out for offside. 

David forced Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera to make a pair of solid saves with dangerous shots from just outside of the box. Larin latched onto a ball played out from deep inside of Canada’s half before seeing his attempt stopped by Mosquera.  

Late in the half, the home side pressed Aníbal Godoy on the edge of the penalty area and forced a turnover. The ball fell to Ahmed who delivered a smart pass to the six-yard box for Larin who tipped it past a helpless Mosquera.   

Panama was a bit livelier and more adventurous in attack to start the second half before Choinière’s curler from inside the box required Mosquera to make another crucial save.  

But the visitors drew level when they won the ball inside Canada’s half and launched a quick counter attack. Cristian Martínez turned and went past three Canadian players before feeding a sublime through ball to José Fajardo who beat Crépeau with a clean chip shot.  

Canada continued to press late in the game as substitute Liam Millar’s dangerous curler off a setup from Davies led to another diving save from Mosquera at the far post. Theo Bair’s header via a David cross deep into the box was collected by Mosquera.  

The Canadians’ persistence paid off when David released Millar into the penalty area and ended up getting a return pass across the box that he side-footed past Panama’s goalkeeper. 

NOTES: The Canadians are 6-2-6 all-time vs. Panama… The previous meeting between Canada and Panama saw Les Rouges earn a 2-0 win in Las Vegas last June in the semifinals of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League… Canada and Panama were the only Concacaf teams to advance to the knockout round of this summer’s Copa América – Canada finished fourth, while Panama reached the quarter-finals… Former Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario was honoured during a special halftime ceremony on Tuesday…

(Top photo courtesy of Canada Soccer)

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