Gold Cup 2019: Three takeaways from Canada's tournament-opening win over Martinique

Rudi Schuller

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Gold Cup 2019: Three takeaways from Canada's tournament-opening win over Martinique image

The hype around Canada's attack has been building, and on Saturday it was on full display.

Canada defeated Martinique 4-0 in Pasadena, Calif., to open the 2019 Gold Cup, and the match showed the good and bad about the current state of the team. Matched up against a physical opponent, it took a while for the offence to click. After surviving a few scares on the defensive end, the Canadians eventually put together a few dangerous chances, ultimately overwhelming Martinique to claim all three points.

While it wasn't a match for the ages, it gave us a glimpse of what's to come for John Herdman's squad.

With that in mind, here are three takeaways from Saturday's match:

Shaky defence

The first half was a bit of a nightmare at the back for Canada, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise given that two natural midfielders were employed by Herdman as defenders. 

Martinique used strength and athleticism to create numerous chances in the opening 25 minutes, but goalkeeper Milan Borjan stood tall to keep Canada in the game and allow his teammates to find some chemistry going forward. 

While the Canadian net was never bulged, the kinds of breakdowns on display by Canada's make-shift back line will not bode well against better opposition.

Davies, the creator

After a breakout 2017 Gold Cup that saw then 16-year-old Alphonso Davies grab a share of the Golden Boot Award as top scorer in the tournament, expectations are heavy for the Bayern Munich winger to provide many of Canada's goals. 

On Saturday, he did just that despite not scoring himself.

Davies was a dynamo on the flanks for Canada, operating best on the left when he consistently beat his defender and whipped in dangerous crosses. The teenager ultimately connected with Junior Hoilett for a 63rd-minute strike, and his ingenuity led to captain Scott Arfield's goal four minutes later, but Davies' creativity could have resulted in a few more goals if not for some good emergency defending by Martinique.

The other teen phenom

So much of the pre-tournament talk focused on Davies, and rightfully so, but Canada has another dynamic attacking talent lighting it up in Europe and he made himself known in his Gold Cup debut.

Jonathan David, a 19-year-old from Ottawa who led Belgian club KAA Gent in scoring last season, burst onto the international scene in the CONCACAF Nations League qualifiers. With four goals in four appearances in that competition, David showed that Canada's future will have a multi-faceted attack led by the Gent star and Davies.

David carried that form over into the Gold Cup opener, scoring Canada's first two goals and showing some savvy in the process.

On his first, David forced a turnover at the top of the 18-yard box and patiently waited out the Martinique goalkeeper before slotting home.

For his second, David broke in behind the defence to receive a well-weighted long ball and once again found himself one-on-one with netminder Loïc Chauvet. This time, he coolly sidefooted past the onrushing 'keeper to double his tally.

With ice in his veins, David may already be making his case for the best finisher Canada has ever had.

Rudi Schuller