After two draws, Team Canada has won its first game in the third round of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup of Soccer in Qatar. Known as the CONCACAF Octagonal, as there are eight teams battling for three World Cup spots, Canada trounced El Salvador 3-0 on Wednesday from BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario.
The Canadian goal scorers were Atiba Hutchinson and Tajon Buchanan of Brampton, Ontario, as well as Jonathan David of Ottawa, Ontario. Hutchinson, a midfielder for Besiktas in Turkey, scored the game-winning goal in the sixth minute. David, a forward for Lille in Ligue 1 in France, scored five minutes later in the 11th minute. Buchanan, a winger for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer, scored in the 59th minute.
Prior to Canada’s win over El Salvador, Canada tied Honduras at one on September 2 in Toronto, and then the United States at one on September 5 in Nashville. The two Canadian goals in the ties against Honduras and the United States came from Cyle Larin of Brampton. Larin is a teammate of Hutchinson for Besiktas.
Canada is currently in a second place tie in the Octagonal with the United States and Panama at five points. Mexico leads with seven points. The fourth place team in the Octagonal will face a team in the inter-confederation to qualify for the World Cup.
