Canada Beats 9-Man El Salvador to Reach Gold Cup Quarterfinals
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By Kaus Pandey
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Summary:
- Canada won 2-0 over El Salvador on Tuesday, topping Group B in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
- El Salvador was left with nine men by the end of the match; Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan scored for Canada.
- Up next, Jesse Marsch’s side will face Guatemala in the quarterfinals.
Canada is through to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals, where they’ll take on Guatemala after a wild and often heated 2-0 win over a fiery El Salvador side on Tuesday night in Houston.
Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan found the net for Canada, who kept their cool while El Salvador imploded. Down to nine men by halftime, El Salvador’s physical, confrontational approach backfired badly at Shell Energy Stadium.
The chaos began in the 35th minute when Santos Ortiz earned his second yellow after a reckless challenge on Niko Sigur.
Just before halftime, a VAR review saw Jairo Henriquez sent off with a straight red for elbowing Alistair Johnston in the face.
Not long before that, El Salvador keeper Mario Gonzalez saved a penalty from David after Jacob Shaffelburg had been brought down in the area.
The numbers underline just how one-sided it was. Canada controlled over 80% of the possession, outshot El Salvador 14-2, and took 13 corners to their one.
American referee Joe Dickerson showed seven cards, including a red to an El Salvador staffer at halftime, as the fouls piled up: 30 in total, 19 committed by El Salvador.
Jonathan David on the Game: “A Bit Chaotic”
Typical CONCACAF. I think a bit chaotic, a lot of fouls. But we knew (this), we expected this so we were just ready for it.
Niko Sigur added,
El Salvador, they’re looking to provoke, they’re looking to fight and battle. In these kind of games it’s tough to keep your head. But in the end we did and we move on.”
After the break, Canada made their advantage count. In the 53rd minute, David slotted home his record-extending 35th international goal after a slick assist from Mathieu Choinière. Three minutes later, Buchanan who scored twice in the Gold Cup opener marked his 50th cap by smashing in another, courtesy of a Sigur setup following a defensive lapse.
With the win, Canada topped Group B and will now face No. 106 Guatemala in Minneapolis on Sunday, avoiding a tougher matchup with Panama. Guatemala finished second in Group C behind Panama, who advanced with a perfect record.
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch, back from a two-game suspension, rotated heavily for this one, eight new starters from the draw with Curaçao. His side handled the heat, the pressure, and the antics.
It’s been a chippy ride so far, but Canada is still standing, and marching toward the next round of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup competition.
