Gold Cup quarterfinal vs. Haiti an exciting affair for David, Canada

Canada's Jonathan David celebrates his goal against Cuba during the first half of their CONCACAF Golf Cup soccer match in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, June 23, 2019. (Chuck Burton/AP)

Saturday is an important day for Jonathan David.

The 19-year-old forward is set to start for Canada in a Gold Cup quarterfinal, with the aim of progressing to its first semifinal since 2007. He is also the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals and was named to the tournament’s best XI from the group stage.

But to top it off, David will be facing the team of his roots for a chance to reach the semis.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Haitian parents, the family moved to Port-au-Prince, Haiti when David was three months old. At the age of six, they left the island nation and settled in Ottawa.

From there, David became a Canadian youth international and attracted the interest of Belgian club Gent, whom he eventually agreed to join.

“It’s an exciting game for me and also for my family,” David said ahead of Saturday’s matchup. “I also know some players on [Haiti]. It is going to be a good game but we have to go out there and do the business.”

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Haiti’s business will likely involve shutting down the teenage striker. Lucas Cavallini – who is second in the Golden Boot race with four goals – is another dangerman for Canada as well. But Cavallini is a regular starter with Puebla in Liga MX. He’s firmly established. David just finished his first full season as a professional footballer and is participating in his first Gold Cup as a senior national team player.

David’s potential was always high, but even this breakthrough caught him by surprise.

“You don’t expect to score that many goals,” David admitted. “What I try to do is just score as many goals as I can and put away as many opportunities as I get. If it’s one or two a game, I try to make the most out of them.”

Upon moving to Gent, David adapted to the rigours of European football immediately. He scored five goals in his first four appearances – all as a substitute – for the club. He finished the campaign with 14 goals in 2,397 minutes across all competitions.

That form translated to his first competitive appearances for the Canadian men’s national team in Concacaf Nations League qualifying. In total, David has nine goals and five assists in seven caps, or 464 minutes. Sure, other than Mexico, Canada has not faced a quality opponent in any of those games, but even against El Tri, David remained incisive and composed.

“I think the confidence just comes from staying after training and working on different types of finishes in Gent, coming to compete [with Canada] and working after training on some finishes,” David said. “I think that just helps your confidence because when you start hitting the back of the net, in your head, it’s like everything goes in and that is what is happening so far.”

David will be hoping that momentum continues in the knockout stage and the rest of the Canadian camp is optimistic that the hot form will carry into the quarterfinals.

Before the tournament began, Canada was expected to square off with Costa Rica in the quarterfinals. However, thanks to a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 win for Haiti over los Ticos, the Haitians won Group B and secured a date with the Canadians in the quarters.

When examining expected goals totals from the group stage, it’s clear that Haiti’s attack – which scored five goals, excluding penalties – was fairly clinical. But the defence was average and that’s where Canada can capitalize.

By the same token, the Canadian defence should be on high alert. The Haitian counter-attack tormented the Costa Rican back line in the second half on Monday. Given the dearth of options at left-back, and the manner in which Mexico picked apart Canada, this will not be a foregone conclusion.

“There was a very clear game plan [against Costa Rica],” Canada head coach John Herdman said on Thursday. “I think the Costa Rica game is a winning strategy against a team like Canada … If you watch that game, you can see they are pretty lethal on the counter-attack.

“They have so much athleticism and the speed in which they can send numbers forward and the commitment that goes behind them. Costa Rica were caught by that. I know they had a lot of the ball. For Canada, it’s definitely a red flag that we may possess quite a lot in this game but in those moments we lose the ball, we will have to be on guard.”

That is why Scott Arfield could be crucial to that plan. A tireless runner with incredible vision, Arfield will likely be asked to ensure the half-spaces are closed down and to connect the attack. The 31-year-old accomplished these tasks at Rangers this past season and is repeating the feat with Canada thus far.

Scott Arfield’s 2018-19 season radar with Rangers. (via Wyscout)

Herdman and his backroom staff are clearly aware of the Haitian threat. Whether they combat that menacing counter-attack will be determined on Saturday.

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