Octavio Zambrano promised attacking intent and delivered in his first match in charge of Canada’s men’s national team. Les Rouges attempted 19 shots against Curacao and 10 different players created a chance in their 2-1 victory at Stade Saputo.
Canada were passable through the first hour, but really sparked into life following the introduction of Alphonso Davies and Anthony Jackson-Hamel. Those two combined for eight shots and shortly after Junior Hoilett knocked a penalty Davies had won against the post, Jackson-Hamel fired in the winner.
Zambrano’s assertion when he took the job that he had discovered “a lot of players with the qualities that I would love to have in my team” in the Canadian player pool was not mere flattery; he started Hoilett, Cyle Larin and Raheem Edwards in a front three here, had Patrice Bernier supporting them from midfield and Davies and Jackson-Hamel among those ready to emerge from the bench.