Memory of Alphonso Davies's goal should outlive sting of Canada's losses at men's World Cup
CBC
Chris Jones is in Qatar covering the men's World Cup for CBC Sports.
The first World Cup goal in the history of the Canadian men's soccer team began during a civil war in Liberia. Debeah and Victoria Davies fled the violence for Buduburam, a desperate refugee camp in Ghana. They lived in a tiny hut made of chipboard and corrugated iron. There, they had a child, a son, Alphonso.
When Alphonso Davies was five, his family immigrated to Edmonton. Davies played soccer from the start and impressed nearly as quickly. At 14, he went to Vancouver and enrolled in the Whitecaps residency program. At 15, he made his debut in Major League Soccer. At 17, he was transferred to Bayern Munich, and at 18, he first took the field for the German giants.
On Sunday night, at 22, he started his second World Cup game for Canada against Croatia.
It was only the fifth in the history of the entire men's program, after a goalless three-and-out performance in 1986. Canada's opening loss to Belgium in Qatar — during which Davies had a penalty saved, his first chance at glory thwarted — made the game close to a must-win. When the opening whistle blew, the sun had long set, and there was a nervy crackle in the air.
After Croatia kicked off and soon lost the ball, Alistair Johnston, playing right back, found it. He made a simple pass back to goalkeeper Milan Borjan, another refugee, whose family fled the Croatian War of Independence for Hamilton when he was 13 years old. Borjan kicked the ball up the middle of the pitch.
Cyle Larin, the only fresh starter named by head coach John Herdman, was waiting just over half, barely onside, when he controlled the long ball beautifully.
He passed it to Tajon Buchanan, streaking up the right. Buchanan, unmarked, tore down the touchline, winning ground the way a storm consumes coastline.
Buchanan fired a perfect cross to his left, into the box. Davies, driving forward, met it with his head, powering the ball down and past the outstretched Croatian goalkeeper, into the net.
The goal took 67 seconds.
It took 36 years.
It took forever.
WATCH | Davies makes history for Canada:
The Canadians could not hold their remarkably early lead. There was too much game left, and the experienced Croatians cut through Canada's sometimes lapsed defence, scoring twice before halftime. The Canadians couldn't find their way back.
