ANALYSIS + HIGHLIGHTS: Ahmed, Sigur shine as CanMNT fly to victory in Romania
The Canadian men's national team beat a UEFA opponent in their own country for the first time since 2009 on Friday, and they did it in style, defeating Romania 3-0 in Bucharest.
It was an important evening for Canada, who played arguably their strongest available XI — featuring Ismaël Koné next to Stephen Eustáquio in midfield, Tajon Buchanan and Ali Ahmed on the wings, and Maxime Crépeau in goal. With only friendlies remaining between now and the 2026 World Cup at home, every match is a test as Jesse Marsch and co. zero in on what exactly this team will look like come June.
There was no doubt from minute one that Canada had every intention of being the more aggresive side in this game. Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi attempted to play straight through midfield with a couple quick passes immediately off the kickoff, in a sequence that didn't lead to much but set a tone for how Canada wanted to play. Almost every moment they spent on the ball, particularly in the first 20 minutes, showed a desire to progress as quickly as possible toward goal.
Canada's bright start bore fruit almost immediately, in a moment fuelled initially by Buchanan's bright, direct play. The Villarreal winger's pace with the ball on the right flank drew a foul not far outside the box around the 10th minute. Although set-pieces have often been a point of difficulty for Canada, this free kick gave little evidence of it.
Ahmed delivered a perfect curling ball into the crowded box, which David redirected with a caressing header into the net at the far post for his sixth goal in a Canada shirt in 2025.
GOAL 🇨🇦
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) September 5, 2025
JONATHAN DAVID heads home to give the CanMNT an early 1-0 lead over Romania 🇷🇴
🔴 Watch LIVE on TSN & OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/wkqp1MdCBr
Just 10 minutes later, with an army of red shirts probing the attacking third, Romanian goalkeeper Horatiu Moldovan found himself in trouble after a poor back pass from his defender. Ahmed pressed the keeper immediately, who couldn't sort the ball out in his feet as the Vancouver Whitecaps attacker picked off the ball and knocked it in for Canada's second goal.
The Romanians grew into the game after Canada's lightning-quick pressure at the start of the game. They strung together a handful of increasingly dangerous chances around the half-hour mark, the best being a well-struck Nicolae Stanciu volley that smacked off the left goalpost and out.
In the second half, the Romanians were much more settled, and they challenged the Canadian area far more frequently. Denis Dragus nearly scored a spectacular goal in the 70th minute, an attempted backheel volley, but Crépeau reacted well to make the save in one of his first major tests of the game.
However, Canada's third goal arrived with about 10 minutes to play. They advanced into the final third with a lovely piece of play, working it forward before Jonathan David recycled it to Jayden Nelson at the corner. Nelson fed horizontally to Niko Sigur, who played it through toward Oluwaseyi and followed his pass, getting on the end of the give-and-go to smash it past the keeper and score his second ever goal for Canada.
(Photo: Audrey Magny/Canada Soccer)
Jesse Marsch had mentioned prior to kickoff that he expected a tough test, in which he wouldn't be worried if Romania had more of the ball. The hosts did in fact have an advantage in possession — 61 per cent, in fact — but they were largely ineffective with the ball.
Canada didn't need much possession, because their pace carried them past defenders and between lines quickly. The more sluggish Romanian side couldn't keep up when Canada started moving forward, thanks to the decisive action of Koné and Eustáquio in midfield to push the ball up the pitch. Out wide, Ahmed and Buchanan likewise stretched the field, pulling the full-backs further away from the ball before they stepped inside to receive the ball at speed.
Marsch had wanted Canada to respond with a strong performance after their disappointing Gold Cup exit against Guatemala, and his players answered the call. This was, across the board, a resounding success; arguably Canada's best performance against this level of competition in months.
"We had a very good start to the match, getting the two goals, but I thought also setting the tone with the way we wanted to play, making it difficult on Romania," Marsch told reporters postmatch. "I think that was really important: a lot of good individual performances and a collective understanding of exactly what the opponent was and what we wanted the game to look like."
What's most encouraging is that many of the players who needed a big performance offered up their best. Ali Ahmed, in tough competition for that starting left-wing position, was arguably Canada's best player, and showed Marsch that he might be the best option in a match where the plan is to press high, as Canada did in the first half here.
Koné, meanwhile, had been publicly challenged by Marsch, who showed faith in the 23-year-old by giving him his first start next to Eustáquio since March 20 against Mexico. It was Koné's best performance in a Canada shirt for probably over a year (since Copa América), which is one of the most encouraging outcomes. He completed 17 out of 22 passes, had four defensive actions and made two key passes, looking as explosive as ever with his ability to carry the ball through midfield and leave defenders behind him.
There was a tense moment when Koné was substituted out after the 64th minute, where he appeared to argue with Marsch. The Canada coach did confirm that Koné had expressed displeasure at being removed, but that the two had come to a better understanding after Marsch explained the tactics behind the move, and that it hadn't been a punitive decision.
Even in goal, where Crépeau continues to compete with Dayne St. Clair for the number one job, Marsch can be happy with what he saw. Although the Romanians were kept relatively quiet, Crépeau did have to make a handful of timely saves, which he did with confidence.
As Canada continue to gear up for the World Cup by playing opponents who could offer similar challenges to what they may see next summer, they passed this test with flying colours.
"It's a special win for us," Marsch said. "And another step for us on the way to making sure we're a really good team next summer."
Now, the challenge will be doing it again, on a short turnaround, against Wales on Tuesday.
(Photo: Audrey Magny/Canada Soccer)
Box Score
Lineups
Romania: Moldovan; Ratiu (Sorescu 85'), Ghita, Burca (Popescu 61'), Bancu (Chipciu 61'); M. Marin, R. Marin, Stanciu (Tanase 61'); Man (Mitrita 74'), Dragus (Miculescu 74'), Dobre
Canada: Crépeau; Sigur, Cornelius, De Fougerolles (Waterman 82'), Laryea; Buchanan (Hoilett 79'), Koné (Saliba 64'), Eustáquio, Ahmed (Nelson 64'); J. David (P. David 79'), Oluwaseyi (Bassong 82')
Goals
11' — Jonathan David (Canada)
22' — Ali Ahmed (Canada)
76' — Niko Sigur (Canada)
Discipline
43' — Yellow: Luc de Fougerolles (Canada)
51' — Yellow: Derek Cornelius (Canada)
59' — Yellow: Nicolae Stanciu (Romania)
64' — Yellow: Ali Ahmed (Canada)
81' — Yellow: Florin Tanase (Romania)
Player of the Match
Ali Ahmed, Canada
Ahmed was the most aggressive player at the front of Canada's press, winning 10 out of 12 duels, making seven tackles and delivering four key passes. He also finished with a goal and an assist, picking the ball off the Romanian keeper to score his own just 10 minutes after finding Jonathan David with a free kick.
GOAL 🇨🇦🇨🇦
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) September 5, 2025
ALI AHMED presses and then snatches the ball off the Romanian 'keeper to tap in for a 2-0 lead 😎
🔴 Watch LIVE on TSN & OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/nl9sv6HdGP
What’s Next?
Canada's September window continues with a trip to Swansea, where they'll play Wales on Tuesday, Sept. 9 (2:45 p.m. ET/11:45 a.m. PT). The match will be broadcast live on OneSoccer and TSN.
