Canada starts road to Gold Cup with tight victory over Curaçao
As Straith earns 43rd cap, Whitecaps’ Davies, 16, makes history
It was just another day at the office for Adam Straith of Victoria, as he earned his 43rd cap Tuesday night for Canada, and finished the game wearing the captain’s armband in a 2-1 victory against Curaçao.
But it was the first career cap earned by 16-year-old Alphonso Davies, who became the youngest ever player for Canada, that was the talk of the night in the men’s soccer friendly at Saputo Stadium in Montreal.
The Vancouver Whitecaps striker was born in a refugee camp in Ghana, to parents escaping the civil war in Liberia, and was sworn in as a Canadian citizen last week. He had an electric debut for the national side after entering the game at 54 minutes.
“You just go out there, play your game, and don’t think about it too much,” said Davies, in a statement.
“To put on that Canadian jersey means a lot. I am really happy to get the opportunity to play for Canada.”
Davies had two scoring chances that required top-shelf saves by Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room. The charging teen was then brought down in the box at 85 minutes but Junior Hoilett hit the post on the ensuing penalty kick with the score tied 1-1.
Substitute Anthony JacksonHamel, however, buried a long shot at 87 minutes to win it on the same pitch he performs on in the MLS for the Montreal Impact.
Four players made their Canada debuts.
“The youth in this team have lots of energy,” said JacksonHamel. “The young players are giving everything to get their place in the lineup.”
Straith, a Bays United and Lower Island Metro product, represents the veteran contingent at age 26. The Islander came into the game at 74 minutes. He had played the full 90 minutes in Canada’s last two games against Scotland and Bermuda.
Straith had been a favourite of former Canadian head coach Benito Floro, who was let go after the failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
This is now the era of new head coach Octavio Zambrano, who made his debut on the Canadian bench one to remember with a forward-moving brand of soccer that has been a rarity in the past with the national team.
“It’s very encouraging because we are at the beginning of a new process,” Zambrano said in a statement. “This victory gives us more confidence.”
Curaçao’s population isn’t even half that of Greater Victoria. Yet the former Dutch Caribbean colony is 39 placings ahead of Canada in the FIFA rankings as the friendly pitted No. 70 Curaçao and No. 109 Canada.
Curaçao’s ranking is “not by mistake,” warned Straith before the game, and added: “They have some very dangerous players playing at high levels across the world.”
That output includes Cuco Martina of Everton, Leandro Bacuna of Aston Villa, Vurnon Anita of Newcastle United, Liandro Martis of Leicester City, Riechedly Bazoer of Wolfsburg and Jetro Willems of PSV, along with several other players in the Dutch Eredivisie.
The real kicker, however, is that soccer may not even be Curaçao’s best sport. That’s probably baseball, with an equally impressive per-capita list of pros produced.
The friendly was to prepare both teams for the Gold Cup next month in the United States. The tournament opens for Canada on July 7 in a pool with Costa Rica, Honduras and French Guiana.
Zambrano has named a 40-player list for the Gold Cup, including Straith and goalkeeper Simon Thomas of Victoria.
“This Gold Cup is extremely important because if we get off to a good start in a tournament environment, so early in Octavio’s time as a manager, it will have a lasting effect on the next World Cup qualifying campaign in the next few years,” said Straith.
Straith said there is a “fresh new feel” to the Canadian team under Zambrano.
That will be a challenge to the steady Straith and the rest of the old guard. But it is one he has taken on 43 times on the Canadian back line and he isn’t prepared to have his red jersey taken off his back any time soon, youth movement or not.