Marcel de Jong and Canada earn 1-0 victory over Honduras

“We’re playing at home, we must impose the conditions, the pace and the criteria by which we should play [the] game”, he was quoted as saying by El Grafico. “He’s special and he creates moments, little bits of magic”. Will Johnson got a head to it, deflecting off of Larin’s back to eventually beat Vallardares for the only goal of the match.

While the bulk of the Canadian national team has experiences of the southern regions of CONCACAF at either the youth or senior levels, new winger Junior Hoilett is coming in blind, having never played in any previous Canadian camp. “A great performance and a great result”.

Larin’s goal was set up by Queens Park Rangers midfielder David (Junior) Hoilet, a recent commit to the Canadian National Team who was born in Canada but was also eligible to play for Jamaica or England.

“We are a new team”, said Johnson. “I think he had a good game and we all know he’s got more to show”.

An unusual goal by Cyle Larin in the 38th minute – the fourth of his worldwide career – proved to be the difference.

There will be plenty of Winnipeg connections when Canada’s men’s soccer team kicks off the next round of Federation Internationale de Football Association World Cup qualifying in Vancouver Friday night. El Salvador has competed in two Federation Internationale de Football Association World Cups-in 1970 and 1982-bowing out of the first round both times after losing all three games. “We’re happy with that, we just have to take it from here”.

While the stunning rout at Estadio Olimpico three years ago got most of the attention, Canada did itself no favours four months earlier when Honduras secured a 0-0 draw in Toronto. As well as emerging with just a solitary point from three Gold Cup group matches this summer, in its last 11 matches, Honduras has won just once. “I am sure we are going to play against Mexico here”.

It was a tentative first half-hour at frigid BC Place in the first game of the current qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup.

Canada, ranked 102nd in the world, nearly doubled its lead in the 63rd minute when Johnson hammered a free kick from 35 yards out that Valladares just got a touch on before it struck the post and stayed out.

Honduran midfielder Mario Martinez had a shot from distance in the 76th, but Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan did enough to push it over the crossbar.

There were few chances following that as Canada held firm, particularly defensively, for the three points.

“It was a good start for us”.

“We feel confident and Tuesday (vs. El Salvador) is another opportunity for us to take another step in the right direction”.

Amusing thing about that BC Place Stadium roof being open in an attempt to freeze out the Hondurans.

As for the impact of playing a qualifier in Vancouver for the first time in over a decade, Floro revealed his desire that Canada’s next home game in Group A versus Mexico next March be played at BC Place after seeing 20,108 fans back his side with passion on Friday night.