David goal stands up as Canada beats Chile 1-0 in men's soccer friendly in Toronto
1st game for host side since falling to Morocco in World Cup Round of 16
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Canada → stand → 16
The Canadian men's soccer team kicked off a new four-year cycle in style Saturday night with a 1-0 win over Chile in a chippy international friendly at BMO Field in Toronto.
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team → kick → Toronto
It was the first game for the host side since falling to Morocco in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup.
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It → fall → Cup
Jonathan David scored the lone goal in front of a crowd of 23,310 and Dayne St. Clair earned the clean sheet.
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Clair → score → sheet
"We wanted to come back here in Toronto after the World Cup to say thank you to the fans," said Canadian midfielder Mathieu Choiniere.
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Choiniere → want → fans
"I think that's the best way that we did it - by a win."
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we → think → win
The Canadian lineup was missing some key players for the first of three friendlies over the next fortnight.
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lineup → miss → fortnight
David wore the captain's armband for 30th-ranked Canada.
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David → wear → Canada
He was joined up top by Cyle Larin, who scored in the Canadian team's first World Cup game here on June 12, a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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who → join → Herzegovina
"It felt amazing," Larin said.
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Larin → feel → ?
"I think I felt the same type of energy and we started off fast in the game and we were able to get one early.
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we → think → one
"So it was amazing to be back and to get that feeling back at BMO."
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it → get → BMO
The match billed as "The Homecoming" began with a ceremony to honour the World Cup squad, which qualified for the knockout stage for the first time and beat South Africa in the Round of 32.
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which → bill → 32
Chile, the world No. 49, did not qualify for the World Cup.
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Chile → qualify → Cup
The South American country's last appearance in the tournament came in 2014.
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appearance → come → 2014
Canada was on the front foot early and was rewarded when David tallied in the 12th minute.
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David → reward → minute
Ralph Priso started the play with a long ball to winger Jacob Shaffelburg, who found Larin with a cross.
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who → start → cross
Goalkeeper Christian Bravo stopped Larin's initial shot but the rebound floated across the goalmouth and David tapped it in with his left foot.
David raised a No. 13 Cornelius jersey in the air as he returned to the sideline.
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he → stop → sideline
Cornelius was hurt during a training session earlier in the week.
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Cornelius → hurt → week
"I'm always expecting to score every game," David said.
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David → expect → game
"So I asked them for it to be prepared."
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it → ask → them
Chilean midfielder Lucas Cepeda was shown a red card in the 35th minute after getting tangled up with Canadian defender Richie Laryea.
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Cepeda → show → Laryea
As Cepeda was pulled down, his leg came upward and his boot caught Laryea on the side of the head.
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boot → pull → head
The contact drew blood near the eyebrow but Laryea stayed in the game after receiving medical attention.
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Laryea → draw → attention
Canada caught a break moments later when Niko Sigur was knocked down and St. Clair was caught out of the area.
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Clair → catch → area
Chile's Jonathan Villagra had a chance to hit the ball into the empty net from distance but he put it over the bar.
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he → have → bar
Gabriel Suazo got the red after he was shown a second yellow card.
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His forearm caught Sigur in the head as they jumped for a ball.
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they → catch → ball
Canada pressed with the two-man advantage but the Chilean backline held firm.
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backline → press → advantage
Jovan Ivanisevic made his national men's team debut as a wave of substitutes came on in the 62nd minute.
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wave → make → minute
Hoilett makes final appearance
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Hoilett → make → appearance
Junior Hoilett, in his final appearance with the squad, subbed in in the 76th minute.
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Hoilett → sub → minute
He was honoured for his 11-year run with the national team after the game.
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"I was emotional, man," Hoilett said.
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"I was trying to hold it together when I first stepped on the field.
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I → try → field
A Laryea strike from distance in the 84th minute hit the post.
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strike → hit → post
Richard Chukwu made his national men's team debut in the 88th minute.
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Chukwu → make → minute
Head coach Jesse Marsch said Canada has set a long-term goal of reaching the top 24 in the world rankings as it looks to qualify for the 2030 World Cup in Portugal, Morocco and Spain.
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it → say → Portugal
Canada will visit the 16th-ranked United States on Oct. 6 in St. Paul, Minn.
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The Aporia
