For the first time ever in a men’s senior-level competitive match, the Canada national team started three teenagers.
Well, the match wasn’t that competitive.
Canada, with teens Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and Liam Millar in the starting XI, throttled the U.S. Virgin Islands 8-0 in a Concacaf Nations League qualifying match on Sunday in Bradenton, Florida. The eight goals marked a record for the Canada national team.
David is an 18-year-old forward off to a scorching start in his first year with Belgian side Genk. Millar is an 18-year-old for Liverpool’s U-23 side who had one cap coming in. The 17-year-old Davies will join Bayern Munich in January and is a relative veteran after starring at the Gold Cup last summer.
The three kids tore the U.S. Virgin Islands apart. David scored two goals in his international debut and Davies added two assists.
Of course, this match should be taken with a grain of salt. Canada isn’t a powerhouse in the soccer world by any means, ranked No. 79 by FIFA (between Belarus and Lebanon). The U.S. Virgin Islands, however, is ranked No. 199 (out of 211).
The match was technically a competitive fixture as part of qualifying for the Concacaf Nations League. The qualifying began Thursday and continues through March, with the top six teams out of a giant 34-team table earning a spot in League A of the nations League alongside six other teams who reached the Hex World Cup qualifying round (including the U.S. and Mexico). For more info on the Nations League, read this.
With an eye on trying to qualify for the 2022 World Cup (and before Canada gains automatic entry to the 2026 World Cup as a host), the Canucks called up a young but strong squad, including eight players 20 or younger. There were some veterans like Tosaint Ricketts, Jonathan Osorio, Junior Hoilett and captain Scott Arfield, but Canada relied on a lot of its up-and-coming players as well.
And the Canada national team has some up-and-comers.
In addition to the aforementioned trio of teens, you’ve got Cyle Larin, a 23-year-old Besiktas forward, who scored twice on Sunday, and Lucas Cavallini, who also scored twice and is a 25-year-old forward with Puebla in Liga MX.
Against the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada didn’t hold back. With qualifying for next year’s Gold Cup on the line and an easier route to World Cup qualifying, the Canadians poured forward at every opportunity, scoring five times in the first half.
First Half Highlights: USVI 0 - 5 @CanadaSoccerEN
Register for FREE to stream: https://t.co/BFo5WZ74eB#TheDreamStartsNow #CNL pic.twitter.com/qTZLnmUpgc— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) September 9, 2018
Canada didn’t slow down too much in the second half.
51' Goal @CanadaSoccerEN! Junior Hoilett slots it in to make it 6-0 for the visitors! #CNL #TheDreamStartsNow pic.twitter.com/NHec9OJhor
— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) September 9, 2018
60' Goal @CanadaSoccerEN! Alphonso Davies connects with Cyle Larin to make it 7-0 for the Canadians! #CNL #TheDreamStartsNow pic.twitter.com/DEx7ZkEEZR
— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) September 9, 2018
80' Goal @CanadaSoccerEN! Alphonso Davies finds Cyle Larin in the box again and the forward nets Canada’s eighth goal of the day! #CNL #TheDreamStartsNow pic.twitter.com/e5TZCXhIPy
— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) September 9, 2018
Again, all this came against the U.S. Virgin Islands, a U.S. territory made up of about 100,000 inhabitants.
But the future looks bright for the Canada national team — and for once we’re not talking about Christine Sinclair and the women. (Or hockey.)
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