ANALYSIS + HIGHLIGHTS: Curaçao stops Canada from progression to Gold Cup QFs with late goal in 1-1 draw

Canada will have to wait to book a spot in the knockout rounds of the 2025 Gold Cup, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Curaçao in Shell Energy Stadium in Houston on Saturday. 

Despite seeing Canada lead much of the game, Curaçao did well to claw back a draw in the late stages of the game, as they picked up their second draw in as many games to kick off the tournament. 

That'll frustrate Canada, who could've booked their spot in the quarter-finals with a win, having defeated Honduras 6-0 in their opening game on Tuesday. Now, they'll instead have to wait until their last match of the group stage on Tuesday to try and do so. 

As mentioned earlier, it didn't take long for Canada to open the scoring, as they started this game on the front foot.

After Jacob Shaffelburg did well to win a dangerous free kick, Jayden Nelson stepped up to take it, delivering a dangerous ball into the box in the 9th minute. It didn't find a Canadian shirt at first, but it fell to Nathan Saliba after a failed clearance, and Saliba did the rest with an excellent right-footed finish. 

At the other end, Curaçao nearly responded with an equalizer in the 18th minute, as Juninho Bacuna whipped in a dangerous free kick towards brother Leandro Bacuna at the back post, but Leandro Bacuna's excellent header would be denied by a fantastic save from Canada's Dayne St.Clair. 

Then, right before half, Curaçao had a fantastic chance in the 44th minute, as Sherel Floranus found Jürgen Locadia with a perfect through ball into the box, but Locadia slashed his shot just wide of the post with his left foot. 

After a quieter start to the second half, Curaçao thought they found an equalizer in the 68th minute. There, it came off some nice footwork from Locadia, who danced his way into a dangerous position before finding the back of the net with a perfect strike, but his goal would be ruled out after an offside. 

Soon after, Curaçao had another goal ruled out, as Roshon van Eijma found the back of the net with a beautiful header, but his goal was cancelled after he was deemed to be offside on the play. 

Meanwhile, Canada looked to put this game away, and almost found it in the 89th minute, as Tani Oluwaseyi stole the ball from Eloy Room in the box with a great press, but his first touch bounced out of play. 

Eventually, however, Curaçao would find the late equalizer they'd been so close to finding all half long, and it came in the 4th minute of second-half stoppage time. After a mistake from Canada, Jeremy Antonisse ran in behind their defence and found the back of the net with a tidy finish to make it 1-1. 

From there, the game would finish that way, leaving Canada quite frustrated given the way they threw away their lead, and Curaçao quite pleased with how they rescued a point against one of the tournament's favourites. 

Box Score

Lineups

Canada: St. Clair; Sigur (Johnston 70'), Waterman, Miller, Bassong; Saliba, Koné (Choinière 70'); Nelson (Ahmed 56' (Buchanan 70')), Shaffelburg (Larin 89'); J.David, Oluwaseyi

Curaçao: Room; Brenet, Gaari (Kastaneer 87'), van Eijma, Floranus; Comenencia, L. Bacuna (Roemeratoe 60'); Margaritha (Antonisse 60'), J. Bacuna, Gorré (Zimmerman 75'); Locadia

Goals

9' -- Nathan Saliba (Canada)

90+4' -- Jeremy Antonisse (Curaçao)

Discipline

7' -- Yellow: Leandro Bacuna (Curaçao)

50' -- Yellow: Kamal Miller (Canada)

57' -- Yellow: Sherel Floranus (Curaçao)

71' -- Yellow: Juninho Bacuna (Curaçao)

Player of the Match

Zorhan Bassong, Canada

After coming off the bench vs. Honduras, Bassong was tasked with starting this game, and he made the most of the opportunity. On the ball, he had two dribbles and seven passes into the final third, doing well to progress the ball, but did his best work defensively, making one tackle, three interceptions and nine recoveries, while winning six out of nine duels. 

What’s Next?

Canada will round off group stage play on Tuesday, June 21st, as they take on El Salvador at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston (7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET), while Curaçao will take on Honduras at PayPal Park in San Jose at the same time.