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Cyle Larin and Jacob Shaffelburg struck for second half goals to lift Canada to a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League Play-In on Saturday afternoon at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
With the win, Canada have qualified for the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024.
Canada started off controlling possession, but it was Trinidad and Tobago who nearly got the first goal in the 18th minute when a counterattack ended with Levi Garcia swinging a shot just wide.
Meanwhile, Canada fired a pair of warning shots when Jonathan David shot wide in the 22′ and then Larin’s effort in the 26th minute was saved by Trinidad and Tobago keeper Denzil Smith.
The chances kept coming for both sides. Trinidad and Tobago DF Andre Raymond swooped in to steal a pass and fired wide in the 47th minute before David had a header cleared off the goal-line in the 55th minute.
The match was due for a goal and Canada duly obliged, as a nice build-up from Tajon Buchanan and Ike Ugbo set up a fine strike from Larin for a 1-0 lead in the 61st minute.
Down a goal, Trinidad and Tobago were forced to open up and commit more numbers forward. Garcia was proving to be a headache for the Canadian defense, but in the final third the Soca Warriors lacked the decisive touch.
Trinidad and Tobago mounted several late forays forward, including a chance for Garcia on 85 minutes that was saved by Canada keeper Maxime Crepeau.
Canada never wavered and cemented their win in the 91st minute when Shaffelburg received a pass from David on the left wing and hammered a shot into net to complete the 2-0 victory.
