Canada 5, Dominica 0 | 2018-19 Concacaf Nations League Qualifier

Phil West

The Canada national team continued their steady march through their Concacaf Nations League qualifiers schedule, getting on the scoreboard less than three minutes in en route to a 5-0 win over Dominica Tuesday night at Toronto FC's BMO Field.

Jonathan David, on an assist from Vancouver Whitecaps FC standout Alphonso Davies, put Canada up 1-0 as fans were still settling in. Canada would then double their lead on a Junior Hoilett goal in the 14th minute. Three minutes later, Hoilett would force a foul inside the 18-yard box, leaving Puebla FC striker Lucas Cavallini to convert the penalty kick in the 18th minute — an audacious, high-arcing panenka that was surprising in both its form and that it ended the first-half scoring.

Canada charged back in the second half, with Hoilett caroming a shot off the post less than a minute after play resumed, leading to a Malcolm Joseph misplay for the own goal. Former Orlando City SC striker Cyle Larin, a second-half sub, scored the final goal in the 81st minute on Davies' second assist of the night.

Goals

3' – CAN – Jonathan David
14' – CAN – Junior Hoilett
18' – CAN – Lucas Cavallini (PK)
46' – CAN – Malcolm Joseph (OG)
81' – CAN – Cyle Larin

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: Canada vaulted near the top of the Concacaf Nations League qualifying standings, padding their goal differential to +13 after two of their four qualifier matches, putting them level behind Cuba and just behind Curacao for the right to get into the Gold Cup and face the last cycle's Hexagonal teams. So far, they look to be a team that can break into the Hex and vie for a spot in the '22 World Cup.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The outcome of the match was never in doubt, with three goals in the first 18 minutes making sure of that. For Canadian fans, the moment that might have counted most was Ballou Yves-Jean Tabla coming on for his first international action. The 19-year-old Montreal Impact Homegrown, now at FC Barcelona B, showed promise in his initial run-out for the red and white.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Hoilett scored a goal, earned a penalty kick for another, and forced a third via own goal. He was lively throughout, making the entire Canadian offense better with his energy.