O'CONNOR CLARKE: The most devastating thing about this CanMNT? How rapidly they can tear teams apart

The gameplan for Canada heading into this one was quite different to either of the prior two contests in this window against Honduras or the United States. Rather than striking in transition or with direct balls, they were more methodical in the build-up.

For the first time in this trio of matches, Atiba Hutchinson and Stephen Eustáquio were fit to start together in the middle, with Jonathan Osorio joining them as well. So, Canada hoped to get men forward and play through the Salvadoran press, banking on the off-ball movement of wide players making runs to create space.

Canada often overloaded the strong side of the pitch with their midfield to tighten up their passes rather than stretch the pitch, trying to play through a congested pitch.

However, the home side proved very capable of defending against the Canadian overload. So far in the Octagonal, they have been very good defensively at home — before Wednesday, they’d conceded just three goals in five games at Estadio Cuscatlán — and this match was no different.

With a very well-drilled 4-4-2 defensive formation, El Salvador moved well as a unit to prevent Canada from finding much space in behind. They also frustrated the Canadians with some physicality and cynical fouling, which helped prevent the visitors from finding a rhythm.

Canada had about 53% possession in the first half, after a far smaller share of the ball in both previous games. They did create some decent chances — one in particular saw Jonathan David stymied by the goalkeeper after an excellent cutback pass by Sam Adekugbe — but weren’t quite as explosive and dynamic as they might’ve wanted to be.

Match opens up late with substitutions, energy

Since they were having trouble really unlocking El Salvador and getting in between their fullbacks and centre-backs through possession play, Canada shook it up in the second half and played to their proven strengths a little more.

John Herdman made an aggressive triple-substitution before the hour mark to bring in Tajon Buchanan and Cyle Larin, also adding Alistair Johnston to allow Richie Laryea to push forward more, as he did in the U.S. win. Almost immediately, the Canadians changed the game and ratcheted up the pace of the contest.

Rather than playing more slowly through midfield — particularly since Jonathan Osorio was one of the players taken out — Canada looked for direct balls to use their speed and one-on-one ability in transition. That’s where both of their goals came from, thanks to attacking players spotting an opportunity to stretch the field and get down the pitch aggressively.

This is not to say that Canada can’t play the more possession-based style — they can, and they have done in the past, especially with a midfield pairing of Eustáquio and Hutchinson — but it wasn’t quite what they needed in El Salvador.

The most devastating thing about this Canadian team is how rapidly they can tear an opponent apart in transition or when they find space going forward, and that’s how they ultimately did it. Although the Hutchinson goal was a little fortunate, it was still a situation created from Canada’s speed of play to get Larin forward onto a long ball from David. When the game opened up, that’s truly when things came to life.

Jonathan David provides more starpower when needed most

Has this three-match window been the best of Jonathan David’s Canadian national team career? Surely it must be.

David has been exceptional in all three of Canada’s consecutive victories, and not just because he’s scored twice and added an assist on Cyle Larin’s goal in Hamilton. For a player of his calibre and in his position to start all three matches, despite the travel and fixture congestion, and go almost the full distance in all of them, is remarkable.

The amount of running David does in Canada’s system — whether playing just below Larin in a front two, or up front as the main centre-forward himself — makes his job quite a difficult one. In January, he’s dropped far deeper into the middle of the pitch than in previous games, going looking for the ball and trying to get himself involved as much as he can.

David coming into form for country is wonderful news for Canada — especially in this window, where they were without Alphonso Davies. The Lille striker had yet to have his true starpower moment in the Octagonal — which players like Davies and Larin had enjoyed in previous games — but he had buckets of them this time around.

The goal in Honduras was special, and the one he scored on Wednesday in El Salvador was clinical, but the consistency and quality of David’s effort across all three games deserves recognition. He has pressed defenders relentlessly, he’s created space for himself with dribbling and footwork, and he has created incredible chances in space with his passing — look no further than the ball he played to Larin ahead of Canada’s first goal Wednesday.

He won 66.7% of his duels in El Salvador, and he was a critical piece of the buildup play, cycling well with Jonathan Osorio and Junior Hoilett in running down the opposing centre-backs. With El Salvador proving difficult to break down, David would not have been able to get on the ball much if he’d pressed higher and looked to be more of a target man; dropping deep was the best way for David to make an impact in this game.

Jonathan David is one of the best players in Concacaf based on ability — perhaps even second only to Davies — and in this past week he’s proven that more than ever.

What’s next?

With all three games of this international window complete, the Canadian players will return to their clubs. The men’s national team will reconvene in March for the final three games of World Cup Qualifying, beginning March 24 away to Costa Rica.

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