Three takeaways from Canada taking down Panama in a testy soccer friendly

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The stadium shook several times during Jesse Marsch’s home debut with Jonathan David bringing the house down late on.

David scored the winner in the 87th minute as Canada beat Panama 2-1 in FIFA friendly action at BMO Field on Tuesday night.

“First, it was great to be at home,” Marsch said in his first match on Canadian soil as men’s coach. “I thought the crowd was outstanding with an exciting game to watch with the late goal and a big win for us.”

Marsch was hired on May 13. His contract runs through July of 2026.

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David and Liam Millar played give-and-go as David passed the ball to Millar and sprinted for open space in the box. Millar returned the ball to David, his right-footed deflection finding the bottom left corner beyond the reach of keeper Orlando Mosquera.

Cyle Larin scored for Canada in the 44th minute. Jose Fajardo scored for Panama in the 69th minute.

A not so friendly affair

Tempers ebbed and flowed throughout this tempest-in-a-teapot affair on a cold, windy and rainy evening.

American referee Tori Penso issued seven yellow cards as she attempted to keep the game cooking just below the boiling point. Post-whistle pushing and shoving, wild gesticulating and finger wagging was the game beyond the game.

Perhaps the most egregious offence came in stoppage time when Michael Murillo blasted a shot at Maxime Crepeau from close range after the play was ruled offside. Canada’s Joel Waterman took offence at the transgression as the temperature ramped up.

Marsch says his squad was prepared for Panama to come at them aggressively.

“The ability to win duels and set the tone physically, with what the game looks like, is important for our development and I think we are getting more of that,” Marsch said. “I think we are able to set that (physical) tone in a really good way.”

Suffering surface

The teams were originally scheduled to train at BMO on Monday, but both sessions were moved to the TFC facility in Downsview.

Marsch didn’t want to make a big deal out of the condition of the playing surface.

“The pitch is not ideal, as much as everyone is trying to make it better,” Marsch said.

Canada will host Suriname in the second leg of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal on Nov. 18.

Marsch also knows pitches and playing conditions are rarely ideal in CONCACAF.

No doubt a mid-November Nations League game would be considered less than ideal.

“In the end, whatever, we can’t make excuses,” Marsch said. “There is no room for excuses in what we ae doing.”

30 for 30

Larin and David both reached the 30-goal mark for Canada on Tuesday night.

“Those guys love each other,” Marsch said. “They have such a cool relationship and they really support each other.”

Marsch says both players are in form with their domestic clubs.

Larin is with RCD Mallorca in La Liga. He has one goal in seven matches played.

“Larin is scoring at Mallorca and he is a bigger part of what they are doing,” Marsch said. “For Larin to be performing like that is good for him and good for us.”

David plays his football with LOSC Lille in Ligue 1. He has five goals in seven matches.

“David has been, I think, maybe the best or one of the best strikers in Europe in the past two months,” Marsch said.

Either way, Canada is lucky to have two in-form players playing in two of Europe’s best leagues.

“We are fortunate to have those two guys,” Marsch said.