Canada defeats Ukraine 4-2 in the Canadian Shield Tournament. Jonathan David scores twice, Buchanan dazzles with goal and assists.
TORONTO – Canada got off to a flying start in the inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament on Saturday, defeating Ukraine 4-2 at BMO Field in a match that showcased flair, precision, and youthful promise. Tajon Buchanan played a starring role, scoring once and assisting twice as Canada picked up all three points in their tournament opener.
Jonathan David was clinical as ever, bagging a brace to push his national team scoring record to 34 goals in 62 appearances. Promise David, making his senior debut for the Reds, also found the net in a dream start to his international career.
Despite a late Ukrainian surge that produced goals from Illia Zabarnyi and Oleksandr Zinchenko, the damage had already been done by Canada’s sharp first-half performance.
This was the Canadian men’s first match since their third-place finish at the CONCACAF Nations League Finals in March, and they looked every bit a team hungry for more. Head coach Jesse Marsch, in his 16th game in charge, has seen his side move to 7 wins, 4 losses, and 5 draws under his tenure, with the added context of two shootouts (one win against Venezuela and one loss against Uruguay at the 2024 Copa America).
Marsch opted for a youthful lineup with an average age of 22.5. Five players in the starting XI, Promise David, Zorhan Bassong, Luc de Fougerolles, Nathan Saliba, and Niko Sigur, had three or fewer caps heading into the match. Yet, they did not disappoint.
It didn’t take long for Canada to grab control of the match. In the fourth minute, Buchanan danced down the right wing, beating two defenders before delivering a pinpoint cross to Jonathan David. The Lille forward saw his initial header cleared off the line, but the rebound fell right back to him and he nodded it in on his second attempt.
The crowd responded with booming chants of “Canada! Canada!”
Moments later, Buchanan and David linked up again, this time in the 24th minute. Buchanan’s whipped cross found David near the near post, and the striker flicked a brilliant backward header into the far corner to double the lead. Ukraine’s goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, currently at Benfica, had no chance.
Canada’s third goal came courtesy of 23-year-old debutant Promise David, a rising star at Union Saint-Gilloise, who scored 24 goals across all competitions this past season in Belgium. Capitalizing on a wayward pass by Ukrainian defender Valeriy Bondar, Promise darted in and slotted a composed finish past Trubin to put Canada 3-0 up by the 31st minute.
He celebrated in style, sliding toward the corner flag in front of family and friends who had made the trip to see him shine on home soil.
The Canadian Shield is a new four-nation mini-tournament featuring Canada, Ukraine, New Zealand, and Ivory Coast. Each team plays two matches, and a champion will be crowned after the second round of games.
The points system is unique:
Win in regulation: 3 points
Win in penalties: 2 points
Loss in penalties: 1 point
Loss in regulation: 0 points
If matches are tied after 90 minutes, they go straight to a penalty shootout.
For 88 minutes, Maxime Crepeau kept Ukraine at bay with a pair of fine stops, including an acrobatic save off Oleksandr Zinchenko. But the clean sheet disappeared in the 89th minute when **Illia Zabarnyi** poked home a header that ricocheted around the box.
In added time, Buchanan was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area. Zinchenko stepped up and buried the resulting penalty, making the final scoreline a more flattering 4-2.
Bournemouth striker Daniel Jebbison came on at halftime for Promise David, earning just his second senior cap. Jayden Nelson, one of several players who had arrived ill in camp after CONCACAF Champions Cup duties with Vancouver, was brought on in the second half and rattled the post with a low drive in the 78th.
Jonathan David nearly secured a hat-trick in the 75th, only to see his attempt sail over the bar. He exited moments later to a standing ovation from the 20,145 fans in attendance.
Buchanan capped his brilliant night with a goal of his own in the 81st minute. Off a free kick, the ball was headed into the danger area where Buchanan muscled past his marker and redirected it into the net. It was his fifth international goal and a well-earned reward for his tireless performance on the wing.
Despite Canada’s strong showing, a large portion of the BMO Field crowd wore yellow and blue, waving Ukrainian flags and chanting from kickoff. With over 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent, the support for Ukraine, which has not played a home game since the Russian invasion in 2022, was heartfelt.
Players emerged with flags, and Mykola Matviyenko’s captain’s armband featured Ukrainian military chevrons in tribute to the ongoing fight at home.
The tournament resumes on Tuesday. Canada will take on the Ivory Coast, while New Zealand faces Ukraine. The Canadian Shield title will be decided based on total points after both match days.
Bal Leagues will continue to provide updates and coverage on all four teams throughout the competition.
GK: Maxime Crepeau
DEF: Derek Cornelius, Luc de Fougerolles, Zorhan Bassong, Niko Sigur
MID: Stephen Eustaquio (c), Nathan Saliba
FWD: Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan David, Promise David, Jayden Nelson
Coach: Jesse Marsch
Canada’s win over a higher-ranked Ukraine side (No. 25 vs Canada’s No. 30) sends a strong signal ahead of their Tuesday clash. The performance was packed with confidence, chemistry, and promise from the next generation of Canadian talent. With Jonathan David leading the line and Buchanan back to his best, fans have every reason to be excited for what’s ahead.
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