Canada earned its first-ever World Cup victory overnight between Thursday and Friday, beating Qatar 6-0 in Vancouver to move to the top of Group B and come close to the round of 32. Jonathan David scored a hat trick, while Qatar finished with nine players. The Canadian celebration was dampened by a serious injury to Ismaeel Kone.
Jessie Marsch’s team dominated from the start and led in the 16th minute when Cyle Larin pounced on a rebound from the Qatar goalkeeper and scored from close range. David doubled the lead in the 29th minute with a strong volley from inside the box. Three minutes later, Qatar’s Ahmad Houmam brought down Tajon Buchanan near the edge of the area. VAR overturned the penalty, changed it to a free kick, and upgraded the yellow card to a red for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Canada used the numerical advantage to go into halftime up 3-0. In first-half stoppage time, Larin headed toward goal, the keeper saved, and David was there to finish for his second. The most worrying moment came in the 51st minute, when Kone was badly hurt after a tackle by Assim Madibo, required extended treatment, and was taken off on a stretcher with oxygen. VAR then upgraded Madibo’s yellow card to red, leaving Qatar with nine men.
Substitute Nathan Saliba scored from a free kick in the 64th minute and dedicated the goal to Kone by lifting his shirt. Mohammed Muntari added an own goal in the 75th minute, and David completed his hat trick in stoppage time. The result means Canada only needs to avoid defeat against Switzerland in the final round to secure first place in Group B. Qatar, despite the heavy loss, will try to upset Bosnia and perhaps still advance. The match was played at BC Place before 52,497 spectators and officiated by Chilean referee Christian Garay.
