Hutchinson connects in road victory

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS AND NEVIS— Captain Atiba Hutchinson’s goal — his first for the national team since 2015 — late in the first half lifted Canada to a 1-0 victory over St. Kitts & Nevis on Sunday in CONCACAF Nations League qualifying. The win was the fourth straight for coach John Herdman since he took over the Canadian men’s team in January, by a combined score of 15-0.

Canada joined Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica with three wins and nine points. Haiti leads with a plus-16 goal differential. Canada and Cuba are at plus-14.

The four-game qualifying round sets the stage for a threetier competition, complete with promotion and relegation, that kicks off in the fall of 2019. Canada is on track to finish in the top six, enough to qualify for the Nations League top tier plus the Gold Cup.