Canada 6 Qatar 0
Vancouver’s unbelievable FIFA summer continued on Thursday with the host nation Canada welcoming previous hosts Qatar to BC Place for a crucial second pool game. The home team were already two goals up through Cyle Larin and Jonathan David when Homam Ahmed was sent off, ending the game as a contest; David’s second goal made the scoreline realistic at half time. A nasty injury to Ismael Kone dampened the joyous celebrations for a short while, Qatar further reduced in personnel, Assim Madibo dismissed for the leg-breaking foul, and from then it was simply a question of how many. Further goals from Nathan Saliba, a disastrous own goal from Mohammed Manai and the hat-trick clincher for David gave the scoreline a polish, and the stadium was bouncing as the players lapped the field at the conclusion of the action. This had been the perfect World Cup matchday for the hosts.
A day trip from Seattle, the 2.5-hour drive across the border was made with eager anticipation of a classic World Cup encounter. This was a battle between two teams desperate to make an impression on Group B and this would be an opportunity to see if Canada had the same appetite and enthusiasm for the World Cup as Turkiye and Australia had displayed in Vancouver on Saturday. Downtown was serene and relaxed as Canadian fans consumed the earlier game in the bars of Granville Street; further down the road, next to Science World and the big football, was where the action was happening. The local football ultras were assembling for a march, and with songs, smokies and plenty of animation, they set off for the stadium, emulating the scenes from match day one at this wonderful venue.
Having watched Switzerland brush Bosnia and Herzegovina aside in the earlier match, Canada knew they had to win, and the 92dB to 149dB cheers from the respective fans told the story of who the crowd were backing this afternoon. The Qatar national anthem was applauded, but the Canada national song, with French and English options, was tear-jerking, definitely a moment to puff out the chest and enjoy the patriotism on display. Football legend Christine Sinclair presented the currency for the toin coss to great applause, and she was to be cheered every time she appeared on the screen. The crowd was at full volume, the countdown took us into a manic first minute where Qatar’s Akram Afif gave us a splendid dummy and a cross from the left just evaded two Qatar players, an instant goal denied. The game was still in its first minute when Jonathan David should have controlled in space, but failed to do so, and the first ten minutes already had a penalty shout and a fine save by Mahmoud Abunada at the near post from David’s volley.
Ooh aah Canada rung around the magnificent stadium. A stray pass from the Canadian defence went straight to Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui, dressed in black and prowling the sideline; maybe a different choice of shirt was warranted. Derek Cornelius was booked, and the resulting free kick wasted by Qatar, but their fans were upbeat, the Viking clap rippling through their small pocket of fans decked in all white robes.
The opening goal saw Cyle Larin pounce when David thumped in a shot, Abunada spilling the shot with only Canadians around him, and there was a massive roar from the crowd to announce his name as the first goalscorer. The first signs that things were not going Qatar’s way was when Yusuf Abdurisag was penalised for a non-foul, and when Boualem Khoukhi was down with a head knock, he left his team a player short. The referee was displeased with the coaching going on at the stoppage, and the crowd responded with a well-timed Mexican wave. There were boos for the hydration break; after all we’d just had a break for the injured player and momentum was totally shot to bits now. We didn’t have to wait long though for another goal, Tajon Buchanan with the shot that sat up for David to volley home brilliantly for 2-0. Canada were hustling, giving Qatar no time in defence; it was upbeat and energetic, much like the crowd.
The game changed complexion just after the half hour, Buchanan crumbling conveniently under the slightest challenge from Homam Ahmed. Penalty and yellow card said the referee, ‘no’ said the Qatar players, free-kick and red card said VAR and Jesse Marsch’s dancing on the sideline looked a little silly now. The hustling continued, Canada able to press in pairs to win the ball with the man advantage. Buchanan stretched to get a shot on goal but it was hacked off the line, David turned and shot but it was deflected over, this was already a duck shoot, the Qatar fans doing their best to stay engaged. The six minutes of added time gave us a header across goal from Buchanan that was cleared from underneath the bar, before a carbon copy saw Abunada save brilliantly only for David to bundle the ball home. It was one-way traffic, Alistair Johnston firing in a shot that was pushed away and Qatar simply couldn’t get out of their half. The scoreline was generous to them at 3-0, and the crowd was certainly baying for more.
The second half started as an attack vs defence drill. The Qatar players were camped in their penalty area, the Canada players were stroking the ball around but failing to penetrate. Just after a check for a possible penalty was waved away, we had the big talking point of the game. There seemed to be little in a challenge by Assim Madibo on Ismael Kone, but the referee was quick to book the Qatar player. Suddenly the stretcher was on the field, the Canada players were a little frantic and they were surrounding their stricken teammate. The Qatari player was looking shocked, players and staff were getting heated on the sideline. The fans, in the meantime, had no idea what was happening. No replays, no explanation when the yellow card was upgraded to a red, and only the sight of Kone waving to the crowd in true Evel Kneivel style suggested that he was hiding something very serious.
So, eleven plays nine. We’ve seen it before. It’s often not easy for the advantaged team to find a way through a locked door, but the crowd were baying for more. “We want four!” The entertainment level had diminished, now it was just a case of how many goals and Qatar sacrificed their danger man Afif to preserve him ahead of the final group stage game. Canada’s Ali Ahmed was taken out at the knee, Ahmed Fathy lucky to escape further sanction. Nathan Saliba’s clever free kick made it four; he was handed Kone’s shirt to lift to the crowd, a gesture showing the togetherness in this blossoming Canada squad. “We want five…” came the shout.
The wave went around the stadium again and again. The fans were lapping it up. Mr Brightside had the whole stadium dancing, Jesse Marsch revved up the crowd to greet the substitutions, the occasion was more than just the football. Canada toiled but were found wanting, Qatar’s Mohammed Manai slicing a shot from Jacob Shaffelurg into his own net to set the capacity 53,497 crowd off again. “We want six…” Canada still couldn’t beat the first man at the near post from their series of corners, and there was a huge cheer for Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau when he finally touched the ball. That cheer intensified when Christine Sinclair was shown again on the big screens, not realising that she was onscreen.
Canada’s urgency picked up in added time, the shouts for six were answered when Saliba fired in a shot that was controlled by David, and the finish completed his hat trick. “We want seven…” went the crowd, urging Crepeau to shoot when he ventured upfield. The crowd were already on their feet at the final whistle, there were flashpoints between the players, and some haymakers being thrown. When it finally died down, Canada took a knee in a circle to hear from their coach as the crowd sung and danced, the Qatar players heading to their bank of fans to commiserate with them. Freed from Desire filled the stadium with song and dance again as Marsch punched the air, acting as though his team had already won the whole damned thing.
He explained afterward why he was in such high spirits – this was a watershed moment for Canadian football – everyone will remember this game, the aim of changing this sport and creating an identity for the national team is high on his agenda, and he spoke with the elegant confidence of a match-winning coach. Kone was already in hospital preparing for surgery, his family with him, Madibo had already been into the dressing room to apologise. He also explained that he heard the snap when Kone broke his leg, and despite the celebrations from outside in the stadium precinct as he spoke, he expressed his love for his players.
“Kone was waving to the crowd, making everyone feel at ease; that was a statement about the player and it showed the special character of the group. He wanted us to finish the job.”
The disagreement with Lopetegui at the end was not something he wanted to discuss. He also didn’t understand why the Qatari staff were so aggrieved and angry after the second sending off. The squad had a family barbecue tomorrow, so they would take stock and begin preparations for the Switzerland encounter after that.
Julen Lopetegui wished Kone the best when asked about it in the first question of his press conference. The player did not mean it. It was an accident. The Qatar media were less sympathetic and wanted answers. Whilst he did lament the loss of two key players for the final group game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he was not going to dwell on the events and decisions of tonight. When asked if his players had the spirit to win the final game, he reminded the media that this was the first time the country had ever qualified for the World Cup, and that the fans had enjoyed the good times against Switzerland to go with the bad times tonight. The Qatari media pursued him after the conclusion of the press conference, but he was off after a quick handshake and a smile, a difficult week ahead of him.
So, what had we learned today? We saw Qatar hassled and they couldn’t cope; we saw a borderline penalty decision that was unpopular with everyone, especially when it resulted in only a free kick and a red card instead of a yellow; play on may have been a better option. We saw the Qatar defence battle with nine players and we saw Canada struggle to work out how to break them down. It should and could have been double digits by 5pm, but the Asian team escaped the ignominy of a record-breaking thumping. This was all about Canada though, and for their fans and the whole population of this hockey-crazy nation, their heads were turned, hopefully forever.