Canada on roll with victory over St. Kitts

BASSETERRE, SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS• Captain Atiba Hutchinson’ s goal late in the first half lifted Canada to a 1-0 victory over St. Kitts and Nevis on Sunday in CONCACAF Nations League qualifying play.

The win was the fourth straight for coach John Herdman since he took over the Canadian men in January. His team has outscored the opposition 15-0 in the process.

As expected, the well-organized Sugar Boys proved to be a tougher test than the U.S. Virgin Islands and Dominica, whom the Canadians dispatched by a combined score of 13-0.

Canada, ranked 76th in the world compared to No. 133 for St. Kitts, had more chances as the game wore on at Warner Park but could not breach the St. Kitts defence.

Substitute Jonathan David hit the woodwork in stoppage time.

Canada, which came into the third round in third spot in the standings, joined Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica with three wins and nine points in the qualifying table.

Haiti leads with a plus-16 goal differential, with Canada and Cuba tied at plus-14.

The four-game qualifying round sets the stage for a three-tier competition, complete with promotion and relegation, that kicks off in the fall of 2019 in the confederation covering North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Canada is on track to finish in the top six, which would qualify it for the top tier of CONCACAF Nations League play next year as well as the Gold Cup (the top 10 nations in qualifying play make the CONCACAF Gold Cup field).

Hutchinson scored in the 44th minute, heading in a fine Russell Teibert cross from the left flank.

The Canadian captain rose above defender Raheem Somersall for his seventh goal in his 80th appearance for Canada.

Three Canadians started on the bench for St. Kitts: Justin Springer of Guelph, Ont., Alain Sargeant of Toronto and Nile Walwyn of Mississauga, Ont.