Final Score: Suriname 0-1 Canada
Goalscorers: Hoilett 81′
Concacaf Nations League — Quarter-Final (Leg 1)

The Canadian men’s national team returned to competitive action on Friday night in Paramaribo, as they kicked off their Concacaf Nations League quarter-final tie with a 1-0 victory over Suriname. Canada will now take a lead into the second leg of this matchup, hoping to see out the victory in Tuesday’s reverse fixture at Toronto’s BMO Field.

Jesse Marsch’s starting XI offered few shocks, although Tani Oluwaseyi’s inclusion up top was notable as just his second start for Canada. Former Cavalry FC defender Joel Waterman got the nod in defence, as Stephen Eustáquio wore the captain’s armband in midfield alongside Ismaël Koné, returning from injury. One surprise in the lineup was Marsch’s choice to start Dayne St. Clair in goal, although the Minnesota United keeper came into the match in good form while Maxime Crépeau has been inactive the past few weeks.

As expected, it was a disjointed game from the outset, as Suriname’s back five provided very little space in the box or out wide. The hosts invited pressure from Canada, who controlled almost two thirds of possession in the opening half, creating a handful of opportunities to shoot but not quite opening the game up.

Canada’s first truly dangerous chance came just after the half-hour mark, as Oluwaseyi was played behind the defence in transition. His low shot beat the goalkeeper, but remarkably the ball hit first the right goalpost and then the left, staying out of the net the whole way and caroming back out into the box.

The Canadians continued trying to attack the right side, with Alistair Johnston getting forward as a fullback and looking for combinations with Jonathan David and Ali Ahmed. They managed to bypass the first line of Suriname’s defence on several occasions, but still Canada remained outnumbered in the box and couldn’t find open men in positions to shoot.

The second half proceeded similarly as Canada continued to seek the opening goal, although it was Suriname who provided an early scare with some opportunities in transition, including one attempt that caught the woodwork, but still the deadlock persisted.

It was a physical, occasionally ugly match; it had 29 fouls in total (15 for Suriname) and seven yellow cards given out. Suriname had a clear plan to disrupt their opposition and prevent them from creating an attacking rhythm — which, for a while, worked, although Canada may not have been provoked into as many confrontations as the hosts might’ve liked.

As Canada began to tire, they made a handful of attacking substitutions to continue pushing for a goal; positive signs were the return to the pitch of both Tajon Buchanan (who broke his leg in training during Copa América) and Junior Hoilett (who hadn’t played since Marsch’s first game against the Netherlands).

At long last, with less than 10 minutes to play, Canada’s breakthrough arrived.

Eustáquio found himself with a moment of space near his own halfway line, and he floated a gorgeous ball across the pitch to David on the far edge of the penalty area. David brought it down beautifully with his chest, settling the ball before slipping a ball across to Hoilett. The veteran, who had made a great run into the box, needed just one touch to redirect it up off the crossbar and into the net, giving Canada a 1-0 lead and the crucial away goal they’d been seeking.

Though it took perhaps longer than they would’ve liked, Canada did manage to achieve their main objectives on the night, keeping the clean sheet and taking a lead in the tie.

It wasn’t necessarily the most free-flowing display of attacking football, but there were few moments where Canada did not seem in control. They remained patient, not letting their opponents get under their skin, which allowed Canada to see the process through.

Now, Canada head home with the advantage, knowing that they’re in pole position to win the quarter-final tie when they step on the pitch at home on Tuesday.

Of course, they’ll need to be wary; in last year’s quarter-final, Canada also carried a one-goal lead into the home leg against Jamaica, but ended up losing the tie on away goals.

However, in this new era of the Canadian men’s national team, confidence should be enough to carry them through. Beating Suriname and advancing to the final four is a bare minimum standard for Canada, who need every competitive match they can get in the lead-up to 2026.

Box Score

Lineups

Suriname: Vaessen; Van Gelderen, Abena, Denswil, Pinas (Dijksteel 69′), Haps; Van der Kust (Misidjan 69′), Lonwijk (R. Vlijter 89′), Malone (Pherai 85′), Becker; G. Vlijter (Vente 69′)

Canada: St. Clair; Johnston, Bombito, Waterman, Laryea; Ahmed (Buchanan 78′), Koné (Osorio 61′), Eustáquio (Choinière 85′), Shaffelburg (Hoilett 78′); David, Oluwaseyi (Larin 61′)

Goals

82′ — Junior Hoilett (Canada)

Discipline

34′ — Yellow: Shaquille Pinas (Suriname)
37′ — Yellow: Myenty Abena (Suriname)
47′ — Yellow: Alistair Johnston (Canada)
54′ — Yellow: Joel Waterman (Canada)
90′ — Yellow: Mathieu Choinière (Canada)
90+1′ — Yellow: Immanuel Pherai (Suriname)
90+4′ — Yellow: Jonathan Osorio (Canada)

CanPL.ca Player of the Match

Jonathan David, Canada

The Lille forward was a threat all night, not just in the moment he provided the game-winning assist. He had four key passes as well as a shot on target, working hard to find space for himself and eventually succeeding in doing so.

What’s Next?

Canada and Suriname will now head to Toronto, where they’ll contest the second leg of this quarter-final at BMO Field on Tuesday, Nov. 19 (7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT).