If you didn’t already know, Tajon Buchanan is a talented footballer.
The New England Revolution winger’s first-half brace sent Canadian soccer into a frenzy Friday, with the Canadians beating El Salvador 2-0 in their Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying tournament opener. The 22-year-old was playing in his first match for the Canadian national side at any level and, within 30-odd minutes, had secured a dream debut and eventually, all three points.
Next up for coach Mauro Biello and the Canadians is a date with Haiti (Monday 6pm ET, OneSoccer) who fell 3-0 to Honduras in their group stage opener after a handful of players and coaches were unable to fulfill COVID-19 protocol Friday.
Here’s how Canadian soccer social media reacted to the result.
RELATED READING: 3 thoughts: Canada confident, composed in Olympic qualifying win vs. El Salvador
KICK OFF ?
(The #CanMNT is back ???)
? https://t.co/hishXepRT3 pic.twitter.com/bGkUyQ9kpI
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) March 19, 2021
Tajon Buchanan opens the scoring with a tidy finish for #CanM23 after a brilliant ball through from Ballou Tabla. #CMOQ pic.twitter.com/OXYE8KPJOT
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) March 19, 2021
That's a damn near ideal first half for #CanM23. There's clearly some rust, but the composure with the ball really improved as time went on.
— Charlie O'Connor-Clarke (@charliejclarke) March 19, 2021
OMG this Buchanan kid! pic.twitter.com/xVCo4QhfJi
— Clint Lalonde (he/him) (@clintlalonde) March 19, 2021
That whole play from Metcalfe ➡ Ballou ➡ Buchanan was absolutely filthy.
This Canadian team has talent coming out its ears, it's just a matter of putting it together like that. #CanM23
— Charlie O'Connor-Clarke (@charliejclarke) March 19, 2021
Tajon Buchanan former @CuseMSOC Continuing his rise since last @mls season scores his second with a great strike.
2-0 ? Very good start. #Canm23 #CMOQ2020— Patrice Bernier (@pbernier10) March 19, 2021
2 goals in the first half T?! ??? @TajonBuchanan
— DeJuan Jones (@dejuanjones24) March 19, 2021
I want that Tajon backflip on a stamp
— Charlie O'Connor-Clarke (@charliejclarke) March 19, 2021
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┻┳| •.•) Tajon Buchanan has
┳┻|⊂ﾉ a first-half brace for Canada#CanM23 #CanMNT @SigmaFC— League1 Ontario, Men’s Division (@L1OMens) March 19, 2021
I’m suddenly much less nervous about this game.
— From the Black Hole (@FrTheBlackHole) March 19, 2021
Pantemis screaming at his players in both English and French. Bonjour/Hi. #CMOQ
— Tristan D'Amours (@tristandamours) March 19, 2021
Nice try by Aidan Daniels, but the ball hits the post! ⚽️? | #CMOQ | @CanadaSoccerEN pic.twitter.com/rrcrD117hO
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) March 19, 2021
Don't, ahem… FLIP the channel, folks – our half-time show is coming right up, ft. former #CanMNT striker Iain Hume! #CanM23 | ? https://t.co/hishXepRT3 pic.twitter.com/A970vMcC3m
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) March 19, 2021
Substitute David Norman Jr. is the first #CanPL player to play a competitive game (of any level) for #CanMNT. #CanM23
— Marty Thompson (@martythompson_) March 19, 2021
Looks like he is, indeed, a CB now btw https://t.co/uoVrPmw6q8
— Charlie O'Connor-Clarke (@charliejclarke) March 19, 2021
A Lucas Dias sighting for Canada! The 18 year old gets 18 minutes to strut his stuff here, as he and Ryan Raposo take up an advanced midfield role in front of Patrick Metcalfe. Excited to see what he can do. #CanM23 #CMOQ
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) March 19, 2021
Really impressed with the Canadian mentality. Willing to play through mistakes. Mature. Composed. Godinho has done well, among a number of solid performances. Buchanan the star performer. #canMNT
— Gareth Wheeler (@GarethWheeler) March 19, 2021
That’s two for @CPLCavalryFC ? @Farsi_15 comes on to make his debut in the #CanMNT’s Olympic Qualifying campaign. #CanPL https://t.co/bmPWH6eFHN
— CanPL (@CPLsoccer) March 19, 2021
#CanM23 Man of the Match? #CMOQ
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) March 19, 2021
FULL TIME ?#CanM23 pick up a big 2-0 win over El Salvador to kick off their Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying campaign ??
Thank you for watching! Plenty more #CanMNT action coming up; here's our post-game show, LIVE with Iain Hume ? https://t.co/NIEyatZx6L
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) March 19, 2021
FT | ??2-0??
That's 3 points ✅ Not bad for their first match in over a year, eh?#canm23? | #CMOQ pic.twitter.com/ky6n0LWAPf
— Waking the Red (@WakingtheRed) March 19, 2021
My latest for @CPLsoccer
Canadian men’s team off to a winning start at Concacaf Olympic qualifiers
(will be updated later with reaction from Mauro Biello)https://t.co/JF8hMBPpSu
— John Molinaro (@JohnMolinaro) March 19, 2021