Canadian defender Alistair Johnston knew something good was coming when he saw Tajon Buchanan launch his cross into the Croatian penalty box.
B次元官网网址淲e have a saying B次元官网网址� we like to call it a B次元官网网址榞oal ball,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Johnston, a CF Montreal fullback/wingback who can deliver a fine cross in his own right. B次元官网网址淎s soon as it leaves your foot, as the guy whoB次元官网网址檚 put in the cross, you just know that ballB次元官网网址檚 got goal written all over it. As soon as it left his foot, I said that in my head B次元官网网址� goal ball. And Fonzie dunked on it.
B次元官网网址淲hat a moment. You could just feel the energy. I think if you checked everyoneB次元官网网址檚 GPS, that was probably the top speed, the max speed ever reached from every single one of the players, getting over to that corner flag (to celebrate with goal-scorer Alphonso Davies). It was just a feeling of B次元官网网址淎h, weB次元官网网址檝e finally done it. WeB次元官网网址檝e finally scored at the worldB次元官网网址檚 biggest stage and we do belong.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淥f course we would have liked the rest of the night to go a little bit better, but it was a special moment than none of us will forget any time soon.B次元官网网址�
Davies goal B次元官网网址� CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first ever at the menB次元官网网址檚 World Cup B次元官网网址� was the high point of the evening for Canada on Sunday at Khalifa International Stadium. No. 12 Croatia, runner-up to France four years ago in Russia, rallied with two goals late in the first half and added two more after the break for a 4-1 win that ended CanadaB次元官网网址檚 hopes of advancing to the knockout round at the 32-team tournament.
BuchananB次元官网网址檚 cross curled away from goal and was met by DaviesB次元官网网址� head as the Bayern Munich star soared high above Croatian defender Josip Juranovic, ending CanadaB次元官网网址檚 36-year wait for a goal after being blanked in three straight games in its only other trip to the menB次元官网网址檚 soccer showcase in 1986.
The goal came 27 years after Helen Stoumbos scored CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first ever-goal at the WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup in a 3-2 loss to England in June 1995.
The time of DaviesB次元官网网址� score has been officially pegged at 68 seconds into Sundays match. Canada Soccer initially had it at 67 but FIFA says it came one second later.
Either way it ranks as the fastest goal in a group stage match at the World Cup since American Clint Dempsey scored after 29 seconds against Ghana in 2014. And it is the fastest goal to date at the tournament in Qatar.
It also removed Canada from the list of World Cup participants yet to score, leaving Congo (competing as Zaire), China, Indonesia (competing as Dutch East Indies) and Trinidad and Tobago stuck on zero.
Goalkeeper Milan Borjan started the play with a goal kick that found Cyle Larin at midfield. The Besiktas striker controlled the ball with his foot and sent it over to Buchanan, who surged forward, taking two touches before lifting his head and seeing Davies headed into the box like an Exocet missile.
B次元官网网址淣ot the outcome we wanted, but weB次元官网网址檒l keep fighting for everyone,B次元官网网址� Davies said in a social media post to his 5.1 million followers on Instagram and 489,600 on Twitter. B次元官网网址淗appy to be able to score my first WC goal for the team and to be able to put my name in the history books. CouldnB次元官网网址檛 have done it without my brothers!B次元官网网址�
While Davies has spoken to FIFA TV and rights-holders like TSN, Canada Soccer has not made the 22-year-old from Edmonton available to the travelling Canadian media since Davies arrived in Doha on Nov. 18.
The goal by Davies was his 13th for Canada B次元官网网址� the first by header. DaviesB次元官网网址� left foot accounted for 11 of his Canadian goals. A 12th came off his body.
Johnston believes Davies may use his head more often in the future.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 the best athlete arguably in world football. HeB次元官网网址檚 unbelievable B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 no reason why he canB次元官网网址檛 be dominant (in the air). You saw what he did. He put that (Croatian defender) on a poster, unfortunately for him.
B次元官网网址淔onzie has that ability, And I think heB次元官网网址檇 like to add that to his repertoire. You put in crosses like that, itB次元官网网址檚 an invitation to go head the ball.B次元官网网址�
Midfielder Ismael Kone, the only other Canadian player to speak to the media on Monday, wasnB次元官网网址檛 so sure.
B次元官网网址淔onzie? I donB次元官网网址檛 think so,B次元官网网址� he said.
The 41st-ranked Canadians, the second team to be eliminated from the tournament after host Qatar, wrap up play Thursday against No. 22 Morocco.
Having drawn kudos for its bright, energetic performance in a 1-0 loss to No. 2 Belgium and scored against Croatia, the Canadians are now looking to get a result against Morocco.
Losing at the World Cup is getting old. And having to wait another four years for a chance to get in the win column is no fun.
According to Opta, Canada is the third team to lose its first five World Cup matches, joining Mexico (which lost its first nine) and El Salvador (lost six).
Coach John Herdman, who riled Croatia with his fiery words to his team in the wake of the Belgium loss, apparently was more restrained when he gathered the players for a post-game huddle Sunday night.
B次元官网网址淚t was a little different that the post-match huddle against Belgium,B次元官网网址� Johnston said with a smile. B次元官网网址淭here was no quotes that are going to go all over the world.B次元官网网址�
The message was put the game behind you, learn from your mistakes and focus on Morocco.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e made a ton of people very proud back home and we need to continue to keep our head held high and play for them,B次元官网网址� said Johnston. B次元官网网址淏ecause thatB次元官网网址檚 what this World Cup is about. ItB次元官网网址檚 about showing your country in the best light to the rest of the world.B次元官网网址�
There was more to celebrate Monday for the players as friends and family visited the Canadian training centre.
B次元官网网址擭eil Davidson, The Canadian Press
