Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan David lead way as Canada downs Ukraine at Canadian Shield
TORONTO — Tajon Buchanan scored a goal and set up two more by Jonathan David as Canada defeated Ukraine 4-2 on Saturday in the opening game of the inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament.
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Promise David, no relation, also scored for Canada in his senior debut.
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Both Ukraine goals came in the dying minutes.
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Illia Zabarnyi scored in the 89th minute, tapping home a teammate's header to cheers from the pro-Ukraine crowd. Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko added another from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Buchanan was pinged for handball in the Canadian penalty box.
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It was an impressive outing, full of offensive flair, by the 30th-ranked Canadian men in their first outing since finishing third at the CONCACAF Nations League Finals in March. And when No. 25 Ukraine threatened, goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was up to the task for the first 88 minutes.
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Jonathan David upped his Canadian men's record goal total to 34 in 62 appearances. Buchanan, meanwhile, looked back to his electric self on the wing.
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No. 86 New Zealand faced No. 41 Ivory Coast in the late game at BMO Field. On Tuesday, Canada plays Ivory Coast after New Zealand faces Ukraine.
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There will be a trophy awarded after the two competition days, with games going straight to a penalty shootout if tied after 90 minutes. A regulation-time win will be worth three points, with a penalty shootout victory two points and shootout loss one point.
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There were plenty of yellow- and blue-clad fans in Saturday's announced crowd of 20,145, cheering on Ukraine which has not played at home since Russia invaded in February 2022. There are more than 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent and Canada has accepted some 300,000 refugees from Ukraine since the war started.
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