Canada 7 St. Lucia 0
After their 4-1 win over St. Lucia in Toronto raised some questions, the Canadian men’s soccer team silenced the critics with a 7-0 dismantling of minnows St. Lucia.
The win made history as Canada’s most lopsided victory in history and biggest World Cup qualifying win since a 5-1 result over the United States in 1957.
Simeon Jackson led the way with a first-half hat trick while Olivier Occean had a goal in each half and Iain Hume had a second half brace.
“I thought we were very composed. We used the ball well,” said Canadian coach Stephen Hart. “There was some good movement and passing at times and especially the finishing. We were very composed in our final pass and our finishing so I'm pleased.”
Hart opted for a somewhat different lineup than what we’re used to. Kenny Stamatopoulos started in place of Lars Hirschfeld in the Canadian goal with Adam Straith and David Edgar forming the central defensive tandem. Nik Ledgerwood returned to the Canadian starting lineup at right back after missing last month through injury.
Straith and Edgar were confident, with Straith playing the role of provider for the first two Canadian goals.
“I was really impressed with (Straith) and David Edgar at the back,” said Hart. “(Edgar’s) defending was solid. He read things nicely and (Straith) brought the ball out of the back very well.”
But the star of the show was Jackson, as his three goals in the first half set the tone. The first came after Straith hoofed a high ball from midfield that flew over everyone. Jackson ran onto it and chipped the goalkeeper.
After Jackson got his second when Straith turned a Terry Dunfield corner kick into his path, Olivier Occean got in on the action by redirecting a Jackson shot with 10 minutes left in the half.
It originally looked as though it could have been an own goal but after looking at the replay, Occean was there to deftly deflect the shot.
“I said last time we created a lot of chances but we lacked composure in the finishing but I thought tonight the finishing was very composed,” said Hart. “They just took the opportunity to put it away and that was nice to see.”
Jackson got his hat trick with six minutes remaining in the half. After Hume struck a Dwayne De Rosario cross right into Pessius Paulius in the St. Lucian goal, Jackson was there to bang in the rebound. The hat trick was the second in Canadian qualifying history after Alex Bunbury. Despite the historical moments in the game, Jackson was a bit understated in his post-match comments.
“It was all right,” said Jackson. “It was a great performance from everybody. We came out here and put the work in and we got the result so everyone's happy.”
With McKenna out, De Rosario got the captain’s armband and upon being substituted in the second half, handed it over to Ante Jazic. Both men made their debut, coming into the same game at the same time in May, 1998 against Macedonia.
“It was a huge honour first to represent your country and second to captain your side,” said De Rosario who also pointed out that Julian de Guzman also picked up his 50th cap for Canada as well as Ashtone Morgan, making his debut for Canada. “It was a much needed win and I'm very pleased the way we came out.”
Occean’s second and Hume’s first which came 20 minutes apart were almost identical. With St. Lucia trying to push forward to salvage some pride, both their goals came on breakaways with both players rounding the goalkeeper for easy finishes.
Morgan, whose inclusion in the game will come as a relief for many Canadian fans who may have been worried about another Canadian player option to play for another nation, crossed in for Hume with six minutes left that the Preston North End man knocked in to round off the Canadian scoring.
“We let ourselves down the last two games because we dominated the games,” said Hume. “Similar to today but we just couldn't put the goals.”
Canada now returns home for Puerto Rico on Tuesday at BMO Field. A win would just about clinch top spot in the group. Canada can clinch when it faces St. Kitts and Nevis home and away in November.
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