Big clubs hover as forward Jonathan David adds to his Canadian record goals total
Good strikers know where to go, to find a crease in the opposition defence, to create an opportunity. And then the great ones finish.
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Witness Jonathan David's second goal in Canada's 4-2 win over Ukraine on Saturday at the Canadian Shield Tournament.
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The play started in the Canadian end after a Ukraine miscue. One pass later and the ball found its way to Tajon Buchanan, who beat one would-be tackler, and raced towards the Ukraine goal.
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David, to his left, matched him stride for stride.
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As Buchanan neared the penalty box, David altered his run and, on an angle, headed to the goalpost nearest Buchanan. The change of direction took him away from goal, but it also gave him position on the Ukraine defender waiting to handle the expected cross.
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Instead David nipped in front and when the ball arrived, dipped his head and flicked it backwards, looping the ball into the far corner past the rooted Ukrainian goalkeeper.
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'He's a special player,' said Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio. 'Probably one of the best players Canada's ever produced. We all are waiting for his next move. I think he has the ability to play in a top-five team, to be honest. So let's see. I'm very happy for him and I hope everything turns out.'
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Goals No. 33 and 34, adding to his Canadian men's record total, likely did not go unnoticed. Out of contract at France's Lille, David is in demand from big clubs.
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Comfortable in his own skin, David is a cool customer. Former coach John Herdman dubbed him the Iceman.
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The 25-year-old from Ottawa lives up to that handle when it comes to the question mark over his football future.
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'No list of preferred destinations,' he said after Saturday's win. 'It's always to look at the sporting project, where I can keep getting better.'
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'It's exciting, of course, but I'm very calm about it,' he added. 'Just waiting for the moment.'
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With captain Alphonso Davies recovering from knee surgery and vice-captain Eustaquio headed to the FIFA Club World Cup, David will lead the team at the Gold Cup later this month.
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The two-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year can score goals and make them, with 16 assists in his 62 appearances. He has played in all 16 of Canada coach Jesse Marsch's games in charge, with eight goals and three assists.
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'He's the smartest player I've ever coached,' said Marsch, whose resume includes stops in MLS, England, Austria and Germany. 'And so his understanding of what's happening in the game and how to move around to find the game in the right way, to help the team, I think is at a really high level.
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