KANSAS CITY, Kansas. - In a match where the final outcome was 4-1, most people would imagine a powerful goalscorer was the team’s hero, but for Canada to stay atop Group B, it took the heroics of goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.
After all, Haiti was certainly motivated to play, as winger Derrick Etienne attested. “It’s very disappointing to lose to Canada three times in one month (twice in World Cup qualifying games, once in Gold Cup action).”
Despite the stress of playing with a reduced roster on Thursday night, Etienne believed the team was capable of a good result. “We had our chances and we didn’t capitalize on them,” said Etienne.
“They never give up,” noted Canada’s Tajon Buchanan of Haiti. “We fought for one another and now we’re on to the United States on Sunday.”
Canada sits just ahead of the U.S. in Group B based on goal differential. A good share of appreciation should go to Crepeau. His teammates thought so, at least.
“He made some huge saves,” said Buchanan of Crepeau. “Credit to him.”
“Not our best performance, but we’ll take the win and grow,” said Canada captain Steven Vitoria. “Amazing saves at the end of the first half. He came up big.”
Now more than ever, Canada will rely on their shot-stopper, who plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer, to make a difference when they face their neighbors to the south.
“Our first objective was top of the group,” said defensive midfielder Samuel Piette. “We want to win against the U.S.”
