June 27, 2023 | Kickoff: 07:00PM ET
Men's National Team

Men's National Team

2 - 2

Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe

Toronto, Ontario | BMO Field

Attendance: 15301

  • Steven Vitória

    90+3'
  • Jacen Russell-Rowe

    90+3'
  • Dominick Zator
    Richie Laryea

    90'
  • Quentin Annette
    Andrew Gravillon

    84'
  • 84'

    Luter Archimede
    Matthais Phaeton

  • Jacen Russell-Rowe
    Lucas Cavallini

    81'
  • 71'

    Meddy Lina

  • 70'

    Nathanael Saintini
    Jordan Tell

  • 69'

    Ange-Freddy Plumain
    Jordan Laborgne

  • 65'

    Andrew Gravillon

  • Charles-Andreas Brym
    David Junior Hoilett

    64'
  • Jacob Shaffelburg
    Liam Millar

    64'
  • Liam Fraser
    Moïse Bombito

    64'
  • 62'

    Matthais Phaeton

  • Lucas Cavallini

    49'
  • Lucas Cavallini

    44'
  • 24'

    Thierry Ambrose

Timeline

Men's National Team
  • KO

    KO

  • 24 ' | Thierry Ambrose

  • 44 ' | Lucas Cavallini

  • HT

    HT

  • 49 ' | Lucas Cavallini

  • 62 ' | Matthais Phaeton

  • 64 ' | Liam Fraser - Moïse Bombito

  • 64 ' | Jacob Shaffelburg - Liam Millar

  • 64 ' | Charles-Andreas Brym - David Junior Hoilett

  • 65 ' | Andrew Gravillon

  • 69 ' | Ange-Freddy Plumain - Jordan Laborgne

  • 70 ' | Nathanael Saintini - Jordan Tell

  • 71 ' | Meddy Lina

  • 81 ' | Jacen Russell-Rowe - Lucas Cavallini

  • 84 ' | Luter Archimede - Matthais Phaeton

  • 84 ' | Quentin Annette - Andrew Gravillon

  • 90 ' | Dominick Zator - Richie Laryea

  • 90+3 ' | Jacen Russell-Rowe

  • 90+3 ' | Steven Vitória

  • FT

    FT

Guadeloupe

Match Report

The result wasn’t what we wanted tonight, but there were a lot of positives in the performance, particularly the performances of our debutants," said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “We showed a lot of resilience to come back after that first goal. We’ll have to regroup and get ready for our next big test in Houston against a very determined, and well-organized Guatemala.”

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team settled for a point against Guadeloupe in a 2:2 draw in Canada’s first group stage match in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Guadeloupe’s Thierry Ambrose opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Canada responded with a 49th-minute goal from Lucas Cavallini and a 71st-minute own goal from Guadeloupe’s Meddy Lina. Guadeloupe equalized when a helpless Jacen Russell-Rowe scored an own goal in the 92nd minute.

Canadian head coach John Herdman made many changes on the night. Usual starters in Jonathan David, Alphonso Davies and Cyle Larin have not been selected for the 2023 goal cup. The absence of big-name players made way for Ali Ahmed, Moïse Bombito, Zac McGraw, Russel Rowe and Dominick Zator to make their national team debuts for Canada.

It marked the first time since 10 January, 2020 that three or more Canadians debuted in the same Men’s National team match (Zorhan Bassong, Tristan Borges, Amer Didić and Jacon Shaffelburg).

Canada’s tactics followed standard procedure — the team looked to dispossess Guadeloupe deep in their half and maintain possession in the attacking third as they searched for the opening goal.

Herdman’s tactics were briefly disrupted when Guadeloupe opened the scoring with a counterattacking goal from Thierry Ambrose in the 24th minute.

Canada enhanced its pursuit to score after conceding a goal against the run of play. Chances came in waves for the Canadians. Minutes before halftime, Hoilett took a swirling shot that beat the keeper but just sailed wide of the post.

Dressed in black, prepared, focused and determined, the Canadian players returned after halftime with a crowd of red supporting them.

What followed was the epitome of Canadian soccer.

Hoilett went first. He broke through Guadeloupe’s backline, running onto a bouncing through ball. He was taken down in the 18-yard box and the referee awarded a penalty. However, VAR overturned the call to award a drop ball despite obvious contact on Hoilett.

The immediate play after saw Cavallini attack the heart of the Guadeloupe defence before playing a through ball into the path of Hoilett, who was bursting down the line. Hoilett picked up the ball and sent an outside-of-the-foot trivela across the face of goal and onto the foot of a sliding Cavallini, putting the ball beyond the keeper's reach and into the net.

The attacks continued to come in waves for Canada. After the goal, Canada could have added three more. Liam Millar, who troubled defenders on the left flank all night, had his shot on target blocked. Cavallini’s curling freekick just sailed over the bar, while his following header was saved by the goalkeeper.

Canada’s build-up play and continued pressure forced an own goal to give them the lead. Richie Laryea and Ali Ahmed exchanged passes down the right flank to bypass a wave of Guadeloupian players. The connection between the two players displayed a high level of teamwork and camaraderie on the night. The go-ahead goal was produced by a flurry of quick penetrating passes between Ahmed, Laryea and Charles-Andreas Brym, which resulted in Guadeloupian defender Lina attempting a dangerous interception in front of his net that resulted in an own goal.

Despite conceding a late equalizing goal, Canada walked away with strong performances from their debutants, especially the eye-catching dribbling skills of Ahmed on the flank and Bombito in the middle of the park.

Canada will look to take all three points when they play Guatemala Saturday at 21:00 EST.

Starting 11

Subs

Did Not Feature

Newsfeed

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Jun 27, 2023 | KO

Match started between Men's National Team and Guadeloupe

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 24'

Guadeloupe goal by Thierry Ambrose (assist by Jordan Leborgne)

0 - 1

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 44'

Men's National Team yellow card for Lucas Cavallini

Lucas Cavallini

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Jun 27, 2023 | HT

Halftime

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 49'

Men's National Team goal by Lucas Cavallini (assist by David Junior Hoilett)

1 - 1

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Jun 27, 2023 | 62'

Guadeloupe yellow card for Matthais Phaeton

Matthais Phaeton

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Jun 27, 2023 | 64'

Men's National Team Substitution of Moïse Bombito by Liam Fraser

Moïse Bombito

Liam Fraser

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 64'

Men's National Team Substitution of Liam Millar by Jacob Shaffelburg

Liam Millar

Jacob Shaffelburg

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 64'

Men's National Team Substitution of David Junior Hoilett by Charles-Andreas Brym

David Junior Hoilett

Charles-Andreas Brym

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 65'

Guadeloupe yellow card for Andrew Gravillon

Andrew Gravillon

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 71'

Guadeloupe own goal by Meddy Lina

2 - 1

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Jun 27, 2023 | 70'

Guadeloupe Substitution of Jordan Tell by Nathanael Saintini

Jordan Tell

Nathanael Saintini

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 81'

Men's National Team Substitution of Lucas Cavallini by Jacen Russell-Rowe

Lucas Cavallini

Jacen Russell-Rowe

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 90'

Men's National Team Substitution of Richie Laryea by Dominick Zator

Richie Laryea

Dominick Zator

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 90+2'

Men's National Team own goal by Jacen Russell-Rowe

2 - 2

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 90+3'

Men's National Team yellow card for Steven Vitória

Steven Vitória

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 84'

Guadeloupe Substitution of Matthais Phaeton by Luter Archimede

Matthais Phaeton

Luter Archimede

Canada Soccer Canada Soccer
Jun 27, 2023 | 84'

Men's National Team Substitution of Andrew Gravillon by Quentin Annette

Andrew Gravillon

Quentin Annette

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