U.S. Falls To Canada In World Cup Qualifying But Remains In Solid Position

Miles Robinson #12 of the United States is chased by Jonathan David #20 of Canada during a 2022 World Cup Qualifying match on Jan. 30, 2022 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

The U.S. men’s soccer team remains in strong position to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, though it’s quest to finish atop the Concacaf qualifying group hit a major roadblock Sunday when it dropped a 2-0 decision to Canada at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario.
Cyle Larin scored early and Sam Adekugbe added a late insurance goal for the Canadians (6-0-4, 22 points), who extended their lead in the “Octagonal” final round of Concacaf qualifying. They also defeated the U.S. for the first time in World Cup qualifying since 1980.
The second-place Americans (5-2-3, 18 points) fell four points behind their northern neighbors with four matches remaining in their quest to qualify for Qatar this November. The U.S. was in danger of falling into third place, pending the outcome of third-place Mexico’s (5-2-2, 17 points) home match against Costa Rica (3-3-3, 12 points) later in the day.
The top three teams in the Octagonal — in which eight teams all play each other home and away — automatically qualify for Qatar, while the fourth-place team moves on to an intercontinental playoff. The U.S. holds a four-point lead over fourth-place Panama (4-4-2, 14 points).
Almost 12,000 fans — 50 percent of stadium capacity — watched the game in person as attendance was kept down due to local COVID-19 protocols.
They were treated to a goal just seven minutes into the match. Only seconds after U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner booted a goal kick to midfield, the Canadians struck off a quick counterattack. Kamal Miller won the ball with a header that went directly to Larin, who performed a quick give-and go with Jonathan David. Larin raced toward the net and fired a 10-yard shot past Turner for a 1-0 lead.
Larin leads all goal-scorers in Concacaf qualifying with 12 goals. It also was his Octagonal-best fifth goal.
The Canadians did an excellent job of marking U.S. players, closing in forcefully whenever the Americans had possession. That limited dangerous opportunities for the visitors.
Christian Pulisic was involved in both of the U.S. team’s first-half scoring opportunities. After Canada’s Mark-Anthony Kaye fouled him 24 yards out, the Chelsea forward sent a free kick over the crossbar in the 37th minute.
Six minutes later, Pulisic floated in a corner kick from the left side to Weston McKennie, who headed a close-range shot that goalkeeper Milan Borjan swatted away with his right hand.
The Americans continued their inability to score in the first half. In their first 10 qualifiers, they have tallied but twice in the opening 45 minutes, while surrendering four goals.
The visitors almost equalized in the 87th minute on a bicycle kick by second-half sub Paul Arriola that sailed wide left.
Five minutes into stoppage time, however, Adekugbe latched onto a long ball from Miller and scored off the counter to give Canada an insurance goal.
The U.S. will look to rebound against Honduras in the final match of this qualifying window Wednesday at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota.