Canada returns to World Cup launch pad with a win over Chile and clues for the road ahead - Toronto Star

Jonathan David’s goal was enough for the Canadians at BMO Field. It could and should have been more.

Canada’s Jonathan David blasts Saturday night’s lone goal past Chilean defender Iván Román at BMO Field.

With six minutes left on the clock — six minutes left in his international career — Junior Hoilett’s eyes lit up BMO Field. A devilish delivery from Jacen Russell-Rowe whipped from left to right and, in his 70th and final Canadian appearance with family gathered on the sidelines, the fairy-tale finish flashed before Hoilett.

He slid in and skewed the ball wide. Up two men but just one goal on Chile, Canada had to hang on a little longer.

Not every ending is perfect. Nor is every beginning. Jesse Marsch and his men returned home to start a long new journey together and did so with a win, 1-0 thanks to Jonathan David’s early goal. It could and should have been more, but wasn’t. For Saturday night, it was enough. Hoilett got his emotional send-off and two new Canadian internationals, Jovan Ivaniševic and Richard Chukwu making debuts off the bench, helped salute him.

Amid the pyrotechnics, a torch had been passed. In the second Marsch era, it will come in handy.

GOAL 🇨🇦 WHO ELSE BUT JONATHAN DAVID? 😎 The CanMNT 🇨🇦 take a 1-0 lead over Chile 🇨🇱 courtesy of the Ice Man of Atlético Madrid 🥶 pic.twitter.com/eWQIxGTovW

Torontonians had seemingly settled on a Saturday pact, grabbing the city by either side and twisting tight to rinse every last drop of summer out of the place. Sun-trap patios across the west end heaved and hummed through the afternoon.

The last time Marsch and his players had pitched up to BMO Field, for that unforgettable World Cup opener 106 days ago, it had also been blissful and warm. The heavens then were a lunchtime, brilliant powder blue variety, the promise of the tournament and summer stretching out before Canada. By the time we were ready to go here Saturday night, the skies were cotton candy pink, spectacular but setting swiftly.

Still, Canada Soccer was intent on holding back the clocks just a little. Pre-game festivities saw the crowd asked to “rise in praise” of their World Cup heroes. Due to injuries and less explicable absence, 15 of the 26 who went deeper in the tournament than any Canadian men’s soccer team before were present. The most resounding burst of noise was saved for last, when vice-captain and last-32 hero Steph Eustáquio was introduced. It was maybe even loud enough for Alphonso Davies to have heard on his honeymoon.

When a montage of the highs of June and July showed Eustáquio’s historic winner against South Africa, Nathan Saliba leaned in, nudged the veteran in the ribs and flashed a floodlight smile. As proud as Marsch is of the memories this team collected, he has been visibly eager to get back to work and feel the new road below Canada’s feet.

Legacy will be a buzzword to linger in Toronto. Rightly so, given World Cup spending. City hall bean counters may not be able to apply a monetary value to this one, but it was hard to remember “O Canada” being sung as lustily for a September friendly as it was here. That’s growth.

The evolution of this four-year cycle, Marsch’s contract now extended to the 2030 World Cup, will be no quick thing. It doesn’t need to be. Nonetheless he saw one of the primary points on his to-do list tackled in no time.

While Canada scored nine goals in five World Cup games, six came against the calamitously awful Qatar side. With the attack regrouping in full health and fine club form, the quality of chances provided is a renewed focus for the team.

How pleasing it will have been for Marsch to watch Jacob Shaffelburg marauding down the left wing from the off. He’d already menaced Felipe Faúndez three times by the 12th minute when a fourth burst burned the right back. His cross met Cyle Larin, whose effort was saved only for David to bundle in the rebound, the Iceman starting this new age.

Like Shaffelburg, Mathieu Choinière was likely keen to prove a point after a disappointing World Cup. He was busy and effective in controlling the middle, alongside Saliba. Roared on by a hefty ex-pat brigade, Chile carried threats to a defence decimated by injury. The visitors thought they had an equalizer on 34 minutes, but instead things turned in 90 wild seconds. Gonzalo Tapia’s goal was ruled out for offside, then Lucas Cepeda was sent off when a high boot caught Richie Laryea in the face.

Red would be La Roja’s colour as a second Chilean, captain Gabriel Suazo, was given his marching orders soon after the restart. An 11-versus-nine handicap for fully 40 minutes offered Canada the chance to make its homecoming a romp.

Hoilett could have helped. Laryea rattled the woodwork with a late piledriver, too. David’s goal would be enough. Hoilett savoured the end of his journey. Marsch’s trek to 2030 has begun.

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Joe Callaghan is a Toronto-based sports and feature writer and a contributor for the Star. Reach him via email: joecallaghan84@hotmail.com or follow him on X: @JoeCallaghan84.