Hat-trick hero David inspires Canada’s historic first World Cup win

VANCOUVER, Canada 

Jonathan David scored a hat-trick as Canada earned their first-ever World Cup win in rampant style, brushing aside nine-man Qatar 6-0.

Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba also got on the scoresheet in a brilliant performance at BC Place that sends them top of Group B with one game to play, with Homam El Amin and Assim Madibo both sent off for Julen Lopetegui’s side.

It was total dominance by Canada, with David seeing a volley parried early on before he played his part in the 16th-minute opener. 

He sent another volley straight at Mahmoud Abunada, but this time, the goalkeeper spilled it into a dangerous area, and Larin pounced to get his second goal of the tournament.

Canada doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark, with David putting his laces through Tajon Buchanan’s blocked shot to pick out the bottom-right corner.

Qatar’s first red card came just moments later; Canada were initially awarded a penalty for El Amin’s clumsy challenge on Buchanan, but replays showed contact was outside the box, so he was shown a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Akram Afif was then on the line to keep out Buchanan’s scuffed effort, but the co-hosts got their third on the stroke of half-time, with David reacting quickest to turn in Larin’s saved header.

The only blip on a historic day for Canada came five minutes into the second half as Madibo caught Ismaël Koné awkwardly from behind. The Sassuolo midfielder seemingly suffered a broken leg, which led to Madibo’s red card.

Kone waved to fans as he was stretchered off, and his replacement, Nathan Saliba, then whipped a stunning free-kick around the Qatar wall and in off the right post 64 minutes in.

Canada’s perfect day in Vancouver got better in the 75th minute as Jacob Schaffelburg’s off-balance effort was swiped into the net by the unfortunate Mohammed Al Manai.

But it was David who had the final say in the 92nd minute. Saliba fizzed a throughball into David’s feet, and he swivelled to plant his hat-trick goal beyond a helpless Abunada, becoming the second player to score a treble this tournament after Lionel Messi.