MONTREAL — Anthony Jackson-Hamel scored in the 87th minute to give Canada a 2-1 win against Curacao in an international friendly at Stade Saputo on Tuesday night.
Jackson-Hamel, who has scored four goals in eight MLS regular season games for the Montreal Impact, scored after Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room made a save on a penalty kick by Canada's David Junior Hoilett.
Octavio Zambrano made his debut as Canada's head coach in the first international meeting between the two teams, who will both compete in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup next month.
Rangelo Janga gave Curacao a 1-0 lead 43 minutes in. Gevaro Neponucemo put a cross along the grass from the left side of the box between three Canada defenders for Janga to finish.
Manrekar James drew Canada level at 1-1 before the half.
A potential goal by Jackson-Hamel in the 72nd minute was ruled offside. He played his second game for Canada after replacing Orlando City SC's Cyle Larin in the 61st minute.
Patrice Bernier wore the captain's armband in his 54th international appearance for Canada. The 37-year-old Impact midfielder came off to a standing ovation from the crowd of 6,026 when he was replaced by Mark-Anthony Kaye in the 79th minute.
Alphonso Davies of the Vancouver Whitecaps made his Canadian men's national team debut. The 16-year-old midfielder replaced Raheem Edwards of Toronto FC in the 53rd minute
Box Score
- 43' -- CUW -- Rangelo Janga (Gevaro Nepomuceno)
- 45' -- CAN -- Manjrekar James (Samuel Piette, Will Johnson)
- 87' -- CAN -- Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Samuel Piette)
- Full box score
- Stats
Three Things
- PIETTE PERFORMS: Canada midfielder Samuel Piette gave his Stade Saputo cheering section a lot to appreciate. Piette, a native of Repentigny, Quebec, who plays in Spain for CD Izarra, bought 391 tickets for the game, and it was obvious that they were all seated together in a midfield section of the crowd of 6,026. Piette caused a turnover to set up Anthony Jackson-Hamel's winning goal, and he was also in the middle of the goalmouth play that led to Manreker James' goal that drew Canada even at 1-1 at the end of the first half.
- MLS PICKS SHINE: Zambrano had five MLS players in his starting lineup for his Canada debut, including Cyle Larin and Will Johnson of Orlando City SC, Patrice Bernier of the Montreal Impact, Raheem Edwards of Toronto FC, and Marcel De Jong of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Three more MLS players -- Jackson-Hamel and Vancouver's Alphonso Davies and Russell Teibert -- entered the game among five substitutions in the second half. it's not that surprising given Zambrano's MLS experience. He coached the Los Angeles Galaxy from 1997 to 99, and the New York/New Jersey MetroStars from 2000 to 2002.
- GOLD CUP-BOUND: It was Canada's only game before the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Canada will face French Guyana in its first Group A game at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ on July 7, before games against Costa Rica at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston on July 11, and Honduras at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX on July 14. Curacao has two games, including the Caribbean Cup semi-final against host Martinique on June 22, before facing Mexico, El Salvador, and Jamaica in Gold Cup Group C competition.
