PARAMARIBO, Suriname — As Canada ascended to some of their highest highs as a national team program under Jesse Marsch, something always felt missing. Attacking veteran Junior Hoilett, who made his first appearance for Canada back in 2015, has hardly been a mainstay through 2024. He’s missed squad selections due to a hamstring injury and in an effort to regain his form.
When he found that form with Hibernian FC and he was cleared of injury, Marsch knew exactly what to do: bring the beloved veteran back into the team for the kind of match Hoilett knows well. In a testy affair that featured many hallmarks of CONCACAF games, including questionable refereeing, the 34-year-old Hoilett was the difference.
Hoilett’s 82nd minute goal was the difference for Canada in a 1-0 win over Suriname to take the first leg of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal. His finish close to goal came after a clever run and final pass from Jonathan David, who was excellent against Suriname.
CANADA STRIKES LATE! 😤🇨🇦
Jonathan David finds Junior Hoilett to put @CANMNT_Official ahead.pic.twitter.com/XkiThnEvDI
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 16, 2024
Canada were the better side in a game that only really opened up in the second half. They now have to like their chances of qualifying for the Nations League Finals in Los Angeles in March 2025.
Canada were without their captain and star left winger Alphonso Davies. The Bayern Munich defender stayed in Germany through the international break with a bout of exhaustion. And there were moments when Canada certainly missed Davies’ directness when trying to hurt Suriname in transition.
The second leg of the quarterfinal is on Tuesday, Nov. 19 in Toronto. Canada lost 2-0 to the United States in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League final and were eliminated by Jamaica in the quarterfinals of the competition in 2024.
Canada’s returnees make a difference
After nursing an injury and falling out of form with the Canadian squad, Hoilett made his first appearance for Canada since a June friendly against the Netherlands. Marsch wanted to bring Hoilett back into the side to give the team some finishing quality, and the longtime Canada attacker showed why: his intelligent run outwitted a tired Suriname back line and his finish was just as deft.
Inside the Canadian team, Hoilett is adored. In the days before Canada’s rise to a CONCACAF power, Hoilett would be the first player to take young players out for dinners and welcome them into the side. Having that calm and presence of mind clearly helped him avoid any nerves in his return.
Tajon Buchanan also made his first appearance for both club and country since fracturing his tibia in a freak training injury during Copa America.
Both have performed well in training leading up to the match, with each hitting faster and faster speeds closer to the game against Suriname.
Marsch’s overarching goal for his squad is to continue to build out roster depth. Seeing both show well in their return is promising for Marsch.
Throwback game from Canada
This was a throwback game for Canada. After a year that has seen them go toe-to-toe with a skilled French side and earn a draw in France and also show well in two games against Lionel Messi and Argentina in Copa America, Canada returned to the CONCACAF of old for them: a small, but vocal crowd. A questionable and unforgiving turf pitch. Physicality and chippy defending from opponents. Long balls played overhead from their opponent to try and best Canada’s quality.
And the smell of cigarette smoking wafting onto the field during onlookers felt like a massive change from the highs of Canada’s semifinal appearance in Copa America, too.
But Canada did well to stay patient and resilient as the game failed to open up in the first half.
Canada didn’t have the chances many might have expected. In the 33rd minute, Tani Oluwaseyi was sprung for a chance close to goal. His low shot bounced off both posts, bringing the crowd off their feet and also bringing a brief pause to the Caribbean band playing in the stands.
Waterman answered questions in strong performance
With a chest injury to one of Marsch’s first-choice centre backs, there was going to be an audition for who could step up and potentially push for consideration in Canada’s back line in 2026.
CF Montreal’s Joel Waterman was given the nod over the Portland Timbers’ Kamal Miller. And Waterman looked up for the task in one of Canada’s more impressive performances. He used his size to outmuscle Suriname attackers and provided the kind of clearances Canada needed in a pinch.
Around the team this week, Waterman is looking and sounding more comfortable as Canada regular. He might not completely usurp Cornelius in the short term. But Marsch’s most pressing questions about his squad depth are about the centre-back position. After Waterman’s dependable showing when he mattered, Marsch might have one less question.
(Photo: Matthias Hangst / Getty Images)
