Canada’s offence comes to life vs. Cuba, will move on to Gold Cup quarterfinals

It took till the third match of the event, however Canada lastly found its scoring contact on the Concacaf Gold Cup. 

After its assault seemed flat and uninspired in attracts in opposition to Guadeloupe and Guatemala, the Canadian males’s crew poured on the type in incomes a 4-2 win over humble Cuba on Tuesday night time in Houston. 

Junior Hoilett, Jonathan Osorio, Jayden Nelson and Liam Miller scored for Canada, who completed in second place in Group D, only one level forward of Guadeloupe and two factors behind leaders Guatemala. By advantage of its top-two end, Canada booked its spots within the quarterfinals. 

Here’s what occurred throughout Tuesday’s match between Canada and Cuba in case you missed it…

GAME RECAP IN A SENTENCE     

A loss or draw to Cuba would have eradicated the Canadians, however John Herdman’s aspect admirably dealt with the stress of the must-win state of affairs with its greatest efficiency of the event, albeit in opposition to an opponent that sits 166th within the present FIFA world rankings, some 121 spots under Canada. 

MAIN STORYLINE 

Canada’s offence involves life after tactical shift

Canada badly wanted a efficiency and consequence like this after being restricted to a pair of targets (one in all which was an own-goal) by its first two video games of the Gold Cup in opposition to vastly inferior sides. 

Canadian coach John Herdman switched issues up in opposition to the Cubans by altering his formation to a extra conventional 4-4-2 after deploying a 3-5-3 setup in opposition to Guadeloupe and Guatemala. The tactical change paid off enormous dividends, because the Canadians stormed out of the gate and turned the screws on Cuba proper from the opening kickoff.

In their earlier two outings, the Canadians had been too targeted on attempting to create scoring possibilities from broad positions, principally by wingbacks Richie Laryea and Liam Millar. While they achieved some success with that tactic, it got here at a steep value as they had been unable to penetrate into their opponent’s field after they tried working the ball by the center. Too usually, knocking crosses into the field from the flanks grew to become the attacking crutch upon which the Canadians leaned on to prop themselves up. Too many crosses had been over- or under-hit, oftentimes undoing Canada’s strong buildup play.  

By going with a four-man midfield and two forwards up entrance, it allowed Canada to play extra comfortably by the center of the park, whereas nonetheless utilizing its outdoors midfielders to use their velocity down the wings. It additionally meant Canada had extra runners larger up the pitch and in higher positions to latch onto by balls. 

Shifting Millar from his pure winger place to associate with striker Lucas Cavallini within the entrance line additionally gave Canada extra velocity up prime to get in behind Cuba’s defence. Millar was additionally extra concerned in Canada’s buildup play in comparison with his earlier outings, serving to the crew grow to be extra linked and centralized in assault. 

What will likely be fascinating to see within the quarterfinals is that if John Herdman sticks with this formation with the 23-year-old Millar because the attacking centrepiece, or revert to the fluid 3-5-2 setup that he’s lengthy most popular. 

BEST MOMENT OF THE GAME     

Jonathan Osorio gave Canada a 2-0 benefit within the twenty seventh minute when he completed off a stunning, free-flowing attacking sequence by scoring his ninth worldwide purpose. 

Canada received possession simply inside Cuba’s half after which shortly went on the counter-attack through Liam Fraser’s outlet move after taking part in a fast one-two with Junior Hoilett. Fraser’s move discovered Liam Millar on the sting of the Cuba field, and he expertly cushioned the ball earlier than taking part in into the penalty space for a streaking Lucas Cavallini. The Canadian ahead instantly squared the ball throughout the field to the again put up for Osorio to fireside previous the helpless Cuban goalkeeper. 

STAT OF THE GAME   

Junior Hoilett is the primary member of the Canadian males’s crew to attain in 4 completely different Concacaf Gold Cup tournaments: 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023. 

BEST QUOTE   

“I feel like these last three games, there’s been a lot of adversity for Canada, it hasn’t been easy. But we’ve played in really difficult conditions. … Coming out of this, I feel like the group is tight, it’s connected and they’re hungry.” – Canadian coach John Herdman. 

WHAT’S NEXT FOR CANADA 

It solely will get tougher for Canada from right here, because it’ll face the United States, the event’s prime seed and defending Gold Cup champions, in Cincinnati on July 9. Canada misplaced 2-0 to the U.S. in final month’s Concacaf Nations League last in Las Vegas. Canada sports activities an all-time report of 10-17-12 in opposition to the U.S. 

“We were pretty clear coming into this match [about] which team we wanted to play and what game we wanted to experience in the Gold Cup. The football Gods have given us our derby match [vs. the U.S.],” John Herdman mentioned after the win over Cuba. 

THREE STARS OF THE GAME 

1) Liam Millar (Canada): A breakout efficiency from the Basel star who scored his first purpose for Canada, arrange one other, and was on the coronary heart of the Canadian assault. 

2) Junior Hoilett (Canada): Scored the Reds opening purpose, assisted on Liam Millar’s to make it 3-0, and wore the captain’s armband with distinction. 

3) Jonathan Osorio (Canada): The veteran midfielder was a continuing thorn within the Cuban’s defence’s aspect by scoring one purpose and registering a team-high three pictures. 

John Molinaro is among the main soccer journalists in Canada, having coated the sport for over 20 years for a number of media retailers, together with Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is at present the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, an internet site devoted to in-depth protection of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. TFC Republic could be discovered right here.