‘It’s bigger than us.’ Canada moves one step closer to World Cup with win in El Salvador

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This article was published 02/02/2022 (1652 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was clear from the first meeting John Herdman ever held as coach of the Canadian men’s soccer team, more than four years ago, that they would go all-out to qualify for the next World Cup they had a shot at: Qatar 2022.

Herdman had helmed Canada’s women’s program since 2010 and experienced firsthand how success at the international level galvanizes support across the country, where soccer already reigns when it comes to grassroots participation.

They knew that qualifying for the first time since 1986 would help to forge a legacy.

The Canadians will co-host an expanded 48-team men’s World Cup in 2026 along with the United States and Mexico, which will leave footprints of its own. But getting to Qatar, in a more competitive field of 32, would prove Canada belongs as a soccer nation on a global scale.

“That’s what drove us every day,” Herdman said.

“It’s bigger than us. It’s way bigger than us.”

As it turned out, Canada hasn’t even needed to finish the job of qualifying to inspire a nation.

By the fourth of five international qualification windows in the CONCACAF region, which ended Wednesday night with Canada’s 2-0 win in El Salvador, Canadian fans — some new to the game, others long-suffering supporters — shared a bandwagon. It’s a first in recent memory for the men’s program, with the women’s team doing the bulk of the motivating in these parts over the last 20 years.

Canada entered Wednesday with a chance to clinch a spot — with a win and some help. That hope was dashed before kickoff, however, after Costa Rica’s 2-0 win over Jamaica.

That there was a kickoff at all in San Salvador had been in some doubt. El Salvador players posted a letter in Spanish on social media about five hours before game time, saying they would sit out following a dispute with the country’s federation over bonuses and having to buy their own cold-weather gear for last week’s match against the U.S. in Columbus, Ohio. The players reversed course and agreed to play about an hour later without explanation.

The game was a slog at times for a Canadian team playing for the third time in a week, two on the road, against an organized and physical El Salvador side in front of a loud crowd on a hot night.

Canada broke the deadlock in the 66th minute with a strange goal by captain Atiba Hutchinson.

It began with a long ball from Jonathan David in Canada’s half to substitute Cyle Larin, who powered down the right wing and beat defender Roberto Dominguez, giving himself enough room to send in a cross.

It pinged off the bottom of the near post and into the path of a falling Hutchinson and defender Eriq Zavaleta, who were crashing toward the goal line. Zavaleta got in the way of the ball, which deflected off him and then the back of Hutchinson — on the ground at this point — before looping back across the goal and in.

El Salvador backup goalkeeper Kevin Carabantes, in for injured No. 1 Mario Gonzalez, picked the ball out of the back of the net and set up for a goal kick while Canada celebrated. The goal counted.

It was the kind of lucky bounce that teams get when things are going so well that is seems nothing can go wrong. And the Canadians are rolling now, taking all nine points available from this window and extending their win streak to six. They’re unbeaten in 11 qualifying matches.

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In injury time, David sealed the deal with a breakaway from inside Canada’s half, chipping the ball past Carabantes with composure to double the lead and close out the scoring.

Canada’s next shot at locking up a World Cup berth will come next month, but they’re essentially there — if not mathematically.

After the final whistle, there was a long hug between Hutchinson, 38, and goalkeeper Milan Borjan, 34, who came up with another big save in injury time. The team celebrated, with an entire nation behind them.

“It’s absolutely what we’ve dreamed of,” Herdman said, “to get people excited.”

Laura Armstrong is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @lauraarmy