Young Canadians impress
TORONTO — Canada’s youth was front and centre Tuesday night, putting on a show in a convincing 5-0 win over outmatched Dominica.
Coach John Herdman used six teenagers in the CONCACAF Nations League qualifying game, starting Alphonso Davies (17), Alessandro Busti and Jonathan David (both 18) and Liam Millar (19). Ballou Tabla and Zachary Brault-Guillard (both 19) made their senior debuts off the bench, sealing their allegiance to Canada.
Herdman, who took over the team in January, said he had been taken by Davies’ showing at the last Gold Cup, calling it a “game- changer.”
“All across the team I wanted to add that youth. I wanted to add that spirit, that fearlessness,” he said.
Tabla, a highly touted talent who left the Montreal Impact for Barcelona’s B team in January, came on in a flurry of stepovers and soon was making inroads down the left side with Davies in a mouth-watering combination.
“It’s a different breed of player. It’s a different type of player, the type that the fans want to see,” said Herdman, who is 3-0-0 as coach.
Canada is ranked 79th in the world, compared to No. 177 for Dominica. At times, the Canadians swarmed the Dominica penalty box as they piled on the pressure before 10,523 on a cool night at BMO Field.
David, Junior Hoilett, Lucas Cavallini (with a cheeky chip from the penalty spot) and Cyle Larin scored for Canada. Dominica contributed an own goal.
Canada plays at No. 134 St. Kitts and Nevis in November before wrapping up qualifying play in March at home to French Guiana, which is unranked because it is not a FIFA member.