KANSAS CITY, Kansas. — Canada secured their first victory in the CONMEBOL Copa América by defeating Peru 1-0 in Group A on Tuesday at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
Maxime Crepeau made the first of his four saves in the 10’ to stop an out-of-the-box attempt from Gianluca Lapadula.
Cyle Larin pressured defender Carlos Zambrano in the 17’, but Pedro Gallese collected the ball to prevent further danger.
Piero Quispe Cordova shot inside the box in the 28’, but Crepeau was there for another key denial.
Larin tried to get a shot off at the right post in the 32’ but was blocked by Zambrano.
Miguel Araujo was sent off in the 59’, reducing Peru to ten men for the remainder of the match.
Jonathan David broke through with the opening goal in the 74’ with a strike as he entered the box on a counterattack. Jacob Shaffelburg provided the final pass and collected the assist.
El gol de Jonathan David que hace historia para Canadá historia en Copa América 👏🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/Nvkk8A39qd
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) June 26, 2024
Tani Oluwaseyi nearly doubled the lead in the 88’ on a one-on-one opportunity, but Gallese made an impeccable save.
Crepeau made another crucial save in the 90’+1 to deny Christian Cueva the late equalizer.
The victory is Canada's first of the tournament and keeps the Concacaf representative in the race for a spot in the knockout round. The Reds have earned four points through their first two games in the group stage.
Canada’s next opponent will be Chile on Saturday in Orlando. Argentina and Peru will face off simultaneously in Miami to conclude the group’s final matchday.
FACTS:
- Mario Alberto Escobar became the first Guatemalan referee to officiate a match in the history of the CONMEBOL Copa América and the 8th Central American to do so. Escobar also officiated the 108th match in the CONMEBOL Copa América for referees who do not belong to CONMEBOL.
- Canada secured its first victory in the CONMEBOL Copa América in its second match of the tournament. Among Concacaf teams, only Panama achieved their first win faster, with a 2-1 victory over Bolivia in their first-ever match in the competition in 2016.
- Canada had only five shots in their victory against Peru. Since Opta began recording this data in 2011, only Peru against Brazil in 2016 and Brazil against Argentina in 2019 had fewer shots (4) in a CONMEBOL Copa América victory.
- Peru conceded only one shot in the first half against Canada, the fewest they’ve
- allowed in the first half of a CONMEBOL Copa América match since Opta started
- recording this data in 2011.
- Canada is the ninth non-South American team and the seventh from Concacaf to score in the CONMEBOL Copa América. In total, 19 national teams have managed to score at least one goal in the competition.
- Canada kept a clean sheet against a CONMEBOL national team (including friendlies) for the first time since 2001, when they drew 0-0 against Brazil in the Confederations Cup