DAVID DELIVERS CRUCIAL THREE POINTS FOR CANADA
On a night where Edmontonians packed Commonwealth Stadium to support its returning soccer star, Alphonso Davies and the Canadian men's national team did not disappoint.
Jonathan David scored 12 minutes into the second half to give Canada a 1-0 win against Costa Rica in front of 48,806 fans on a brisk November night, which was actually uncharacteristically warm for this time of year in Edmonton.
David pounced on a loose ball in the box dropped by Costa Rica goalkeeper Leonel Moreira off a cross from Stephen Eustaquio. The win gave Canada a crucial three points on the road to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and kept them in a position to qualify directly.
The top three of the eight teams in the final CONCACAF qualifying round advance to the World Cup next November in Qatar, while the fourth-place team moves on to an intercontinental playoff for an additional berth.
Canada has not competed in a men's World Cup since its only appearance in 1986.
Davies was playing his first game at home since leaving as a teenager to pursue a professional soccer career with the Vancouver Whitecaps. He returned a bonafide star now playing with soccer giants Bayern Munich of the German Bundesliga.
Early on, it was a classic case of trying to do too much and chasing the game instead of letting it come to him for Davies.
Looking to impress, he got off to a nervous start. It didn't help the Costa Ricans surrounded the Canadian star every time he touched the ball and hacked him worse than Pele in the movie Victory.
Davies, who started the game as an out-and-out striker along with Jonathan David, wanted to put on a show for his fellow Edmontonians and at times got caught trying to do a little too much with the ball, looking to beat multiple players with it.
His best chance came in the 15th minute when put through into the Costa Rica penalty area, but his shot was blocked by defender Oscar Duarte, who was able to extend a leg out.
Canada came close to scoring off the ensuing corner when a Costa Rica defender headed the ball off his own crossbar attempting to clear the ball.
Canada dominated possession early in the half, but had to ease off putting pressure on Costa Rica when fullback Ritchie Laryea was booked for a soft challenge on Jewison Bennette and then centre back Steven Vitoria was issued one for a challenge on Jose Ortiz a few minutes later.
Costa Rica's best chance came in the 36th minute when midfielder Youstin Salas hammered a volley from outside the penalty area, which Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan did well to catch.
With just over seven minutes to go in the half, Canada had a penalty appeal denied when David appeared to be pushed over in the box by Salas. American referee Ismail Elfath, however, did not consider the play to be an infraction.
With five minutes left in the half, Davies finally found some room to run at the Costa Rica defence and attempted a long shot that sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Out on the left win to start the second half, Davies made an excellent run eight minutes in and swung in a cross to the far post that was just over the head of Liam Miller, who had a strong game.
Just over a minute later a blocked shot floated to Tajon Buchanan who took bicycle shot with his back to the net and hammered the crossbar.
David broke through in the 57th minute cleaning up a ball on a rare ball Moreira dropped. Moreira started in place of Paris Saint-germain star Keylor Navas, who stayed home and is expected to play against Honduras on Tuesday.
Vitoria came close to increasing the lead with a header off a corner, which Moreira was able to get a hand to and keep in front of him.
After taking the lead, Canada kept pushing forward looking for the second goal. Cyle Larin did put the ball in the net off a scramble following a free kick swung in by Eustaquio, but knocked it in with his hand and was actually lucky not to get a yellow card.
After going down, Costa Rica never really threatened although there we some tense moments on balls cross in the penalty area.
Canada, however, we able to see the game out and held on for the win. They will now host Mexico on Tuesday at Commonwealth Stadium in another game where close to 50,000 fans are expected, even though temperatures are expected to drop by a few degrees.