Canada overpowers Honduras to seal place in Nations League finals
Canada secured its spot in the CONCACAF Nations League finals with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Honduras on Tuesday.
Two goals in the opening 11 minutes from Cyle Larin, the top scorer in the history of the Canadian men's program, put John Herdman's team in charge early. His strike partner Jonathan David and midfielder Jonathan Osorio each found the net in the second half at BMO Field in Toronto. Jorge Benguche's goal, meanwhile, was mere consolation for the visiting side.
Canada will now have an opportunity to capture its first trophy since 2000 when it takes part in the four-team finals in June. Continental heavyweights Mexico and the United States also qualified for the mini-tournament, which will be staged in Las Vegas.
Panama grabbed the last berth after topping Costa Rica on Tuesday and will meet Canada in the semifinals, leaving bitter rivals Mexico and the U.S. to lock horns in the other semi.
"We're the big boys now," Larin said after the match when asked about Canada getting another opportunity to play the region's top teams.
A fantastic team goal from Canada as Cyle Larin scores in back-to-back @Concacaf games. 💪 pic.twitter.com/CfGCN2KAwl
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 29, 2023
After beating Curacao on Saturday in their first match since the World Cup in Qatar, the Canadians, ranked No. 53 in the world, only needed a draw to clinch first place in their Nations League group. Right from the opening whistle on a chilly night in Toronto, Herdman's men were clearly seeking more than just the single point necessary.
Canada came flying out of the gate, and the in-form Larin quickly struck twice. He opened the scoring in the eighth minute after a slick passing sequence and doubled the advantage just three minutes later with a close-range header from a corner. The only disappointment for Canada on the evening was Larin's inability to complete his hat-trick, as he slid a penalty kick wide of the post prior to halftime.
Canada dictated play throughout and crafted multiple openings in the second half, overwhelming Honduras in midfield and consistently getting Alphonso Davies and Tajon Buchanan into advantageous positions out wide; the rapid wing-backs helped create Larin's opener and David's tally.
Though Benguche's header ended Canada's bid for a second clean sheet in four days, the Canucks still extended their unbeaten home run to 15 matches.
Their next task is to bring home a piece of silverware, something Herdman has spoken at length about following the World Cup, particularly ahead of this international window. The men's national team hasn't won a title since its famous Gold Cup triumph 23 years ago.
Come June, Herdman and Co. will get a chance to change that.