Canada can claim a spot in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League with a win or draw on Tuesday at BMO Field when they take on Suriname.
In leg one of that tie, the Canadians scored late and managed to claim a 1-0 victory in what was the first knockout fixture in League A for Natio.
Match preview
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Similar to a year ago, Canada find themselves leading the opening leg of their quarter-final tie at the Nations League but hoping that history does not repeat itself this time around.
Last year, they had a one-goal advantage versus Jamaica heading home for the second leg but fell apart, conceding three times in the second half, losing 3-2 and exiting the competition on away goals.
Since losing the third-place match at the Copa America in July, the Canucks are unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions, winning on three of those occasions by a single goal.
Jesse Marsch's men have posted two clean sheets in their last three competitive fixtures and have not conceded multiple goals in 90 minutes since that third-place Copa America contest with Uruguay (2-2).
Not since the 2022-23 season have they made the semi-finals of this competition, though the only knockout game they have ever played in Canada was that defeat in the quarter-finals against the Reggae Boyz last year.
Tuesday will be the fourth time they face Suriname in a competitive fixture, with Les Rouges boasting a 100% record against Natio all-time, outscoring them by a combined margin of 7-1.
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The first-ever Nations League knockout fixture appeared to be destined to be a positive result for Suriname, who held the Canadians off the scoresheet until the 83rd minute.
In the end, fatigue appeared to set in for Stanley Menzo's men, who had only 34% of the possession throughout the match and failed to register a single effort on target.
Two of their last three games as the visitors, however, have ended in a victory for this team, who have scored seven goals and conceded just two over that stretch.
Suriname have won 13 successive competitive games when netting multiple times and have not dropped points when doing so since a 2-2 draw versus Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in October 2019.
This team have never lost consecutive matches in League A of this competition but have also never followed up a defeat with a victory in their next game in the top stage of this tournament.
Natio have lost all of their meetings against the big three nations in North America (Canada, the USA and Mexico), scoring only once in those six contests, when they were thrashed 8-1 by Mexico in October 1977.
Team News
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There were five newcomers in the Canadian starting 11 on Friday that did not begin their friendly versus Panama as Dayne St. Clair replaced Maxime Crepeau in goal, while Alistair Johnston, Joel Waterman, Ismael Kone and Tani Oluwaseyi came in for Derek Cornelius, Alphonso Davies, Mathieu Choiniere and joint-record goalscorer Cyle Larin.
Physical fatigue will keep Davies out of this encounter, while Larin can match Mark Watson for eighth in all-time caps if he features in this fixture.
Junior Hoilett had the only goal in match one of this tie, equalling Tosaint Ricketts for seventh all-time in the history of this program, while Jonathan David and Larin are even for the most-ever goals with Les Rouges at 30 each.
Menzo inserted three new faces in the opening lineup for Suriname in leg one, with Stefano Denswil, Justin Lonwijk and Djevencio van der Kust coming in for Kenneth Paal, Immanuel Pherai and Virgil Misidjan.
Two of their players selected for this window will be seeking their first appearances with the senior squad on Tuesday, including Jayden Turfkruier and Jonathan Fonkel.
Gleofilo Vlijter, their record goalscorer (15 goals), can move into a five-way tie for 10th in all-time caps for the national team in this match, equalling former players Giovanni Waal, Emilio Limon, Ferdinand Jap A Joe and Miquel Darson in the process.
Canada possible starting lineup:
Crepeau; Ahmed, Johnston, Waterman, Bombito, Laryea; Eustaquio, Choiniere, Shaffelburg; Larin, David
Suriname possible starting lineup:
Vaessen; Van Gelderen, Abena, Denswil, Haps; Malone, Pinas; Becker, Paal, Lonwijk; Vlijter
We say: Canada 2-0 Suriname (Canada advance 3-0 on aggregate)
Suriname may be able to compete with the elite teams in CONCACAF, but they have yet to show that they can put one of those sides under duress, which is why we expect Canada to win comfortably.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
