Canada defeats El Salvador 2-0 in Olympic men’s soccer qualifying

Soccer Canada (Wikimedia Commons)

Team Canada has won their first game of the 2021 Olympic men’s soccer qualification tournament in Mexico. On Friday from Guadalajara, Canada defeated El Savador 2-0.

It was a strong game for Tajon Buchanan of Brampton, Ontario. The New England Revolution forward scored both of Canada’s goals. The first in the 17th minute, and the second in the 21st minute.

CF Montreal goalkeeper James Pantemis of Kirkland, Quebec recorded the shutout. El Salvador had eight shots on target toward Pantemis throughout the 90 minutes of action.

In other Group B action, Honduras beat Haiti 3-0 on two goals from Darixon Vuelto, and another from Edwin Rodriguez. In Group A action on Thursday, the United States beat Costa Rica on a lone goal from Jesus Ferreira in the 35th minute, and Mexico beat the Dominican Republic 4-1 on a hat trick from Francisco Cordova.

This was Canada’s first game of the Men’s Olympic Soccer Qualification Tournament. They will next play Haiti on Monday and then Honduras on Thursday. The top two teams in the tournament qualify for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The heavy favourites to qualify from the group are the United States and Mexico. Canada will have to beat one of those two soccer powerhouses on Sunday, March 28, to qualify for the Olympic Games.

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