Canada outlast Jamaica to win first leg of postponed CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final
Wins never come easy on the road in CONCACAF. Canada were forced to wait more than 15 hours to kick off in Kingston, but it was well worth the wait.
Canada beat Jamaica 2-1 on Saturday morning to return home with the advantage in their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final. It’s the first time Canada have won in Jamaica since 1988, and man will it feel good to fly home after a Saturday morning game that they were not expecting to play.
It wasn’t the smoothest performance we’ve seen from Canada over the last few years, but it was much better than last month’s showing in Japan. All that really matters is that CanMNT did enough to get the job done in the hot Jamaican sun thanks to goals from Jonathan David and Stephen Eustáquio.
Related read: Cyle Larin and Jonathan David find confidence and goals again as Canada beat Jamaica
The biggest question after Saturday morning: where did all the water go?
Torrential rain in Kingston on Friday turned Jamaica’s Independence Park into an aquarium, forcing the match to be postponed until Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. ET. While you and I might’ve enjoyed having a meaningful morning match to enjoy with our breakfast in the absence of a regular slate of Premier League action, the players certainly did not appreciate playing a morning fixture in the Caribbean sunshine. Canada Soccer really couldn’t have flipped the kit selection so the players didn’t have to wear the all-black fit in the searing heat?
Despite taking the lead in the first half, it looked like Canada were set to leave Jamaica even after a controversial equalizer and then some generally fatigued play left the match level at 1-1. That was until Eustáquio reminded everyone that he’s not only a defensive midfielder.
Related read: Stephen Eustáquio affirms status as Canada’s most important player in CanMNT’s Jamaica win
The FC Porto man was the beneficiary of some great work and patience by Vancouver Whitecaps right-back Richie Laryea, who took the ball down Jamaica’s right side and had the patience and vision to pick out Eustáquio at the top of the box in the 86th minute. The Leamington Legend picked his spot perfectly, leaving Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake without a chance.
The grass was slow and long, just as the Jamaican team would’ve wanted. But given that the pitch looked like an aquarium 14 hours before, it was pretty remarkable a match was played on that ground at all.
There were a few concerns for Biello and his staff to address. Canada looked vulnerable with the ball being played over the top and from set pieces. It did catch them out, albeit controversially, in the second half when Jamaica took advantage of what seemed like the absence of the referee’s whistle to catch Canada out and cancel out David’s first-half goal.
In truth, Canada were very lucky not to be trailing at half-time.
If Jamaican forward Leon Bailey was more clinical in front of goal, Jamaica could’ve taken a three-goal lead into the half-time break. The Aston Villa man had three first-half chances, with the best coming at the 40-minute mark after a good spell of pressure from Canada where it looked like the visitors would strike first. Thankfully for Biello’s men, Bailey mishit the inswinging corner kick which he just needed to tap past a helpless Milan Borjan, but instead put his effort off the post.
Related read: Mauro Biello and Canada’s ‘brotherhood’ proud of unity after overcoming weather and doubts to beat Jamaica
In the 14th minute, Bailey had pulled a low shot just wide of Borjan’s net, with the type of shot that prior to Unai Emery‘s arrival at Villa Bailey would frustrate fans with all the time. He’s been much better under Emery, but thankfully for Canada, he left that form back in Birmingham.
A big narrative coming into the first leg was how Biello would use out-of-form forwards Cyle Larin and Jonathan David. The pair started up front, in a starting XI that did not include Toronto FC’s Jonathan Osorio, and rewarded their gaffer for his trust with a clever bit of work to open the scoring in first-half stoppage time.
David tried his luck for a second goal from long range just three minutes into the second half. The Lille man hit a strong low ball forcing Blake to stretch to his right and push it aside for a Canada corner, which they failed to capitalize on but continued to make Jamaica uncomfortable from set pieces.
West Ham star Michail Antonio was forced to leave the match with a lower-body injury in the 16th minute. It was a big break for Canada’s back-line who were expecting to have their hands full with Antonio all morning. There was no immediate word on his availability for Tuesday’s second leg in Toronto.
Tickets are still available for what could be another crowning moment for the Canadian men’s program. Advancing to the Nations League semi-final stage would also clinch Canada’s place in next summer’s expanded Copa América, which will feature six CONCACAF teams.
Can anyone explain why we still insist on calling up Mark Anthony Kaye. Never mind the fact that he’s first to be subbed into the game. It makes me want Bello gone ASAP.
Biello is fine, I didn’t agree with the sub of kone either but it was hot as hell field was heavy and in that role we are limited our bench isn’t great. This is the first time we have won in Jamaica in 35 years why would we make a coaching change and besides the CSA had no money who would we bring in. There is alot to be critical of mainly how slow Osorio is or why davies is playing hero ball still with us when he doesn’t have to but we scored two nice goals got a huge away win under difficult circumstances and if just hold serve we go to copa a tournament we have never played in hardly a call for the coach to get fired especially if u compare him to the mindless dummies we had at tfc the past year Mauro is fine by me.
And Kone again disappointed. He was constantly giving the ball away. Kaye played well and within himself. And they got more solid with him on.
Agree with you again Mrppv, I won’t be losing any sleep knowing Biello and his assistants will be running this national team, but as you say watching Osorio is also troublesome for me , he just looks clumsy or injured or maybe in his early thirties already done . I will repeat in what I said last week , Jonathon is the new Michael, this player should be nowhere near the captains armband in the upcoming season , and only god only knows why they are paying him a DP wage.
We have to find a way to get rid of Osorio. He’s done injury may have played a part but he looks worse and worse all the time. All this talk of getting rid of Italians when it should be getting rid of Osorio. He’s lost it. I know it doesn’t sound great for people with podcasts who talk foolishly about doing right by our veterans blah blah blah. But he has to go both for Canada and tfc.
Don’t run down the Podcast fellows, they provide me with my weekly fill of humour. Especially that James Sharman and of course JPN.
Bright spots was the backline after the first 10 minutes. Adekube and Miller in particular.
Eustaquio. As usual, the most important player for the team.
I thought the period after the second goal was the best i have seen the team all year.
Borjan still stresses me.
Davies looked pretty indifferent. He is in worrisome form for 🇨🇦.
Lack of depth is a killer for this team. Allister Johnston has to be playing 90, and to think MAK came on as the first sub. They want Konè to be the guy in the midfield, I am not seeing it. Herdman was right with MAK “you are not good enough”
Quite a gutsy performance. The squad looks to be somewhat back on track after looking nervous and disjointed in previous games. The positives include Larin, David, Vitorio and Estaquio playing very well. I question some of the players being on this squad at all considering we’re building towards 2026. We need Vitorio out there but he’s going to be 42 or 43 in 2026. Can he be expected to play well against the worlds’ best? The age factor also comes to mind with Osorio and Holliet. Giving them minutes takes away from our potential younger players. Our younger players had a good showing at the recent Gold Cup so where are they now? Davies seems to have lost his way somewhat, overplaying in certain situations, but he still brings what no else can. Just not seeing it like before. I don’t think Petite has enough skill to be on this team and his inclusion, again, takes away from our younger, upcoming talent. And I thought Borjan had retired. I think he’s still a fine keeper but is he going to be #1 in 2026. I thought Crepeau was going to be our #1 once he’s back playing. I guess we’re back to being able to beat everyone in CONCACF, except the USA. I doubt we could beat very many teams from the other Confederations. It will be interesting to see us in the COPA.
Agree with you outside of, didn’t think Vittorio was great he got caught out a couple of times he is generally very effective in the air which is why he is in the squad the time he didn’t start vs the usa in nations league we were a nightmare in the air and defending set pieces. I think the focus isn’t 2026 at the moment just getting into copa next year which is monumental for us, especially since we have never played in it. The plan I think is after copa we can focus on 2026, which still gives us 2 years.