Quarterfinals bound WATCH: ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/JkofUN9AOQ
— Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) July 15, 2017
For the first time since 2009, Canada are through to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Canada secured the second spot in Group A with a gritty, scoreless draw against Honduras on Friday night in Frisco, Texas.
Whitecaps FC defenders Sam Adekugbe and Marcel de Jong both started for Canada and played the full 90 minutes, Adekugbe at left back and de Jong at left wing, while midfielder Alphonso Davies played the final 17 minutes as a second-half substitute.
Both Adekugbe and de Jong featured prominently for Octavio Zambrano’s side.
Adekugbe delivered a number of timely tackles and clearances while marking Houston Dynamo forward Alberth Elis, who was playing on the right wing. And De Jong had some of Canada’s best chances, including a volley off the post in the 22nd minute, in a man of the match performance as selected by CONCACAF.
Substitute Jonathan Osorio also came close for Canada with a 72nd-minute strike from distance, but Honduran keeper Luis Lopez made a diving save to keep the score level.
At the other end of the park, Honduras forced Canada into a pair of goalline clearances as well as a key save from Milan Borjan on a 91st-minute Ovidio Lanza header.
Canada will now face the Group C runner-up – likely Jamaica or El Salvador – in the quarterfinals on Thursday. The quarterfinal matchups will be finalized on Sunday.
