(Toronto) Jacob Shaffelburg scored twice and Jonathan David became Canada’s all-time leading scorer as Canada blanked Suriname 3-0 for a 4-0 aggregate victory in their home-and-away quarterfinals final of the CONCACAF Nations League on Tuesday.
Updated at 12:29 a.m.
Neil Davidson
The Canadian Press
The Canadiens, ranked 35e in the world, had defeated Suriname (136e) 1-0 in Paramaribo, last Friday, thanks to a goal in the 82e minute the Junior Hoilett.
Thanks to this victory, Canada advances to the final phase of the Nations League next March, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and qualifies for the 2025 Gold Cup.
David’s fourth goal in his last six international matches moved him past Cyle Larin into first place among men with 31 goals in 59 matches. Christine Sinclair, recently retired, holds the Canadian and world record with 190 goals in 331 duels.
Canada has scored 12 goals in 13 games since the arrival of head coach Jesse Marsch, with David involved in eight of them (five goals and three assists).
“He seems to score in every game,” Marsch said. He is still dangerous. He sets the table for goals. He’s a complete player. »
“He’s incredible and he’s in great shape,” added Richie Laryea. It is impossible to counter. »
Thanks to this victory, Canada advances to the final phase of the Nations League next March, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and qualifies for the 2025 Gold Cup.
In the semi-final, Canada will face Mexico (16e), who defeated Honduras on Tuesday.
The Canadians drew 0-0 with the Mexicans in a friendly match last September in Arlington, Texas.
The other semi-final will pit the United States (18e) and Panama (39e), who respectively beat Jamaica (61e) and Costa Rica (50e), Monday.
After a sloppy start to the match from both teams, David gave Canada the lead in the 23rde minute when Suriname failed to deal with a short Canada corner kick which saw Mathieu Choinière send a dangerous ball into the Suriname penalty area.
An attempted clearance hit Shaffelburg and bounced towards goal, finding David who calmly scored.
The speedy Shaffelburg made it 2-0 in the 30the minute, beating Suriname goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen on a long pass from Moïse Bombito. Shaffelburg deflected the ball perfectly to the other side of the keeper and deposited it into the empty net.
The announced crowd of 13,239 at BMO Field taunted Vaessen the rest of the evening, with sarcastic cheers every time he managed to clear the ball.
A demarcated Shaffelburg found the back of the net again in the 67the minute, taking a cross from Larin for his sixth goal in a Canadian uniform.
Larin hit the post in the 80the minute, which caused a premature celebration in the stadium and Larin fell to the ground in disbelief that he had not scored his 31e but.
Canada is 5-3-5 since Marsch took office.
